News (863)
The Maluku Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located about 70 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa, is being equipped with a river dock to improve freight logistics, the Special Economic Zones Agency (AZES) said in a statement on March 16, 2026.
Inaugurated on March 13, the facility was financed by Saphir Ceramics, a manufacturer of tiles and ceramic products. It is intended to facilitate shipments to Congo-Brazzaville and to other provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo served by river routes. Company officials said the dock would also support export operations for other businesses in the Maluku SEZ.
Several companies are already operating in the zone, including Varun Beverages RDC; Sopaco, which processes agricultural products; K Timber in logging; Eben Ezer International, active across several industrial sectors including paper; and Hema Beverage and Refriango in the agri-food sector.
Saphir Ceramics has also led export activity. In March 2025, the Chinese-owned company shipped more than 300,000 square meters of tiles to Congo-Brazzaville. The first of its kind in the DRC, it has an estimated production capacity of 70,000 square meters per day.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Congolese government has unveiled a plan to retake control of a mining concession in Kakanda, in Lualaba province, after a landslide killed 11 people on the night of March 10-11, 2026. The site belongs to Boss Mining, a subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), and has been occupied by illegal miners.
In a statement dated March 17, authorities announced a series of measures focused on evacuating the site, relocating artisanal miners and securing the concession.
The plan includes identifying and gradually relocating artisanal miners to designated artisanal mining zones, known by their French acronym ZEA, to move them away from industrial concessions. The process will be overseen by SAEMAPE, the state agency responsible for supporting and supervising artisanal and small-scale mining, in coordination with provincial authorities.
“This arrangement is intended to provide legitimate operators with legal and safe working conditions outside industrial areas, while ensuring ongoing technical and security support from state services,” the mines ministry said. The goal is to restore Boss Mining’s full rights over the concession (PE 469). Authorities added they would take the necessary steps to fully secure the site, allowing industrial operations to resume once illegal activity has been cleared.
ERG’s concessions have faced repeated incursions by illegal miners for several years. The Boss Mining site was overrun after the company suspended operations in 2023 following a series of incidents. According to the company, these incursions can involve more than 200 trucks per day transporting copper and cobalt, resulting in estimated losses of $1.8 million daily.
In response, ERG signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 10, 2026, with Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC). The agreement aims to formalize artisanal mining through supervised zones, traceability systems and improved working conditions, while keeping this production separate from industrial supply chains.
Restoring state authority
Authorities acknowledge the scale of the problem, which has reached the highest levels of government.
“Artisanal mining is becoming a serious problem. Many of our compatriots working as artisanal miners are dying. There is also the invasion of industrial sites, which damages the DRC’s image abroad and raises concerns about its ability to protect investments. We are very concerned about this situation. These issues are being addressed at the highest level, and we are confident that solutions will be found,” Jean-Marie Kanda, President Félix Tshisekedi’s senior adviser on mining, said in a podcast by consultancy Innogence Consulting released in January.
Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba, who has repeatedly been urged to act, said he is working on the issue alongside the interior ministry to restore state authority. Illegal operators are widely believed to have the backing of senior political figures and members of the security forces. The issue was recently discussed at a meeting of the Mining Fraud Commission, which brought together both ministries.
In its March 17 statement, the mines ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ending illegal mining and accelerating the formalization of the artisanal sector. It said processing entities that sourced minerals from illegal sites remain suspended and that the case has been referred to the judiciary to prosecute those involved in illicit mining.
However, some measures have been slow to materialize. The identification of 64 ZEAs in Lualaba, announced in November 2025 following a fatal accident at the Kalando site, had not been completed as of February. According to Mining Registry Director General Popol Mabolia, only around ten zones had been identified at that stage, and these still needed to be made operational before being allocated to cooperatives and artisanal miners.
Pierre Mukoko & Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital economy minister has introduced a new regulatory framework for certain digital activities and services in the country.
In an order signed on March 11, 2026, Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba outlined the procedures for reviewing applications and granting authorizations for activities requiring prior approval under the Digital Code.
The order provides a transitional period until June 30, 2026, for affected operators to comply with the new requirements. From July 1, 2026, the provisions will take full effect.
The measure does not apply to all digital operators. It covers only activities and services that require authorization.
Affected entities include operators building data centers; qualified trust service providers (including electronic signatures, seals, timestamping, archiving, certification, website authentication, electronic registered mail and cryptology); application hosting providers; certain large digital platforms such as cloud services, online marketplaces, app stores, social networks, content-sharing platforms, online banking platforms, fintech firms, matchmaking platforms and search engines; as well as essential digital services.
During the transition period, responsibility for processing authorization applications has been assigned to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Congo (ARPTC). The regulator will verify the completeness and compliance of application files, assess applicants’ legal, technical, organizational and financial capacity, and issue a recommendation to the minister, who retains final decision-making authority.
Authorizations valid for five years
To obtain authorization, applicants must submit a file including legal, tax, technical and administrative documents, a detailed description of the relevant activities, and a business plan.
Authorizations are valid for five years and may be renewed. They do not exempt holders from complying with other applicable legal and regulatory obligations.
The order also includes administrative sanctions in cases of non-compliance, including fines, reduced validity periods, suspension or withdrawal of authorization. Operating without the required authorization may also expose operators to penalties under existing legislation.
Through this order, the government aims to implement the Digital Code and tighten oversight of segments of Congo’s digital economy deemed strategic or sensitive.
Copper Intelligence, formerly African Discovery Group (AFDG), announced on March 3, 2026, the deployment of a drill rig at its Butembo copper project in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in partnership with South African company Gemdrill. The campaign aims to further assess the site’s geology.
According to the company’s timeline, and subject to potential delays due to customs procedures and road conditions, drilling could begin in mid-April 2026, with preliminary core sample analyses expected in early May.
Copper Intelligence said it has deployed an XY-44 drill rig. Manufacturer specifications indicate that this type of equipment can reach depths of up to around 1,000 meters, depending on configuration, target diameter and ground conditions. This capacity could enable testing of mineralization continuity at depth, although actual performance will depend on site-specific conditions and the equipment used.
Preliminary grades
The copper grades reported at this stage are based on initial results published by the company in October 2025. The data are derived from artisanal shafts and Phase 1 work conducted along the floodplain of the Talihya River over a stretch of about 500 meters. The company reported grades of up to 18% copper at one point and 16.3% at another.
It noted, however, that these figures do not constitute a resource estimate or reserves, but reflect early-stage surface sampling results.
At this stage, the data do not confirm the existence of a continuous or economically viable deposit. The drilling campaign is intended to verify mineralization continuity at depth and to better define the project’s potential.
The company also pointed to the site’s location, approximately 33 kilometers from the DRC-Uganda border, with potential access to the East African corridor leading to the port of Mombasa in Kenya. This logistical advantage remains a company claim at this stage and depends on successful geological confirmation and subsequent project development.
Copper Intelligence is listed on OTC Markets’ OTC Pink segment, which is subject to less stringent reporting and listing requirements than major U.S. exchanges such as the NYSE or Nasdaq.
Timothée Manoke
The Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa plan to resume discussions on the Inga 3 hydroelectric project in April 2026, according to a March 12 statement by the Congolese Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity.
South Africa's Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has confirmed an official visit to the DRC to advance work on renewing and updating bilateral energy cooperation agreements tied to the project, the ministry said.
A political memorandum of understanding already exists between the DRC and South Africa to export 2,500 megawatts, according to the World Bank's Inga 3 project document. The institution also noted that the two countries must continue discussions to renew that agreement and increase the export target to 5,000 megawatts.
The World Bank further noted that the development of Inga 3 could reshape the DRC’s role in regional electricity trade, enabling the country to supply not only its domestic market but also several African power pools, including the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and the Central African Power Pool (CAPP). The bank described the project as a potential source of export revenue, as well as a tool to secure power supply to Kinshasa and the industrial corridor around the Inga site.
Financing and new agreements
According to the Congolese ministry, authorities are also preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Agency for the Development and Promotion of the Grand Inga Project (ADPI) to develop the financing structure of Inga 3 with World Bank support. On Feb. 2, 2026, the French Development Agency (AFD) and ADPI had already signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa to support project preparation.
Inga 3 remains at the preparation stage. The World Bank noted that its final specifications have not yet been determined, with options under study ranging from approximately 4,800 megawatts to 11,000 megawatts, at an estimated cost expected to exceed $10 billion. The institution stressed the need not only to prepare the project itself, but also to ensure the country is ready for it, given its institutional, social, territorial and financial scale.
To that end, the Inga 3 Development Program was established, backed by $1 billion in World Bank funding over a ten-year period, divided into four phases of $250 million each. The first tranche was approved on June 3, 2025.
Pending an investment decision, the steps now underway primarily reflect Kinshasa’s push to reactivate diplomatic, technical and financial partnerships around a project that Congolese authorities regard as central to the country’s national energy strategy.
Ronsard Luabeya
DRC approved the takeover of Chemaf (Chemical of Africa) by Virtus Minerals on March 13, Bankable learned from a source involved in the process. According to the source, the decision is contained in a letter from Mining Minister Louis Watum to Virtus CEO Phil Braun.
The approval is required under Congolese law for any formal transfer of mining assets. It clears the way for the finalization of a share transfer agreement signed in late January between Virtus and Zedra Skye Trustees, which represents nearly 95% of Chemaf's shareholders.
The decision was reached in consultation with Gécamines, which owns certain permits operated by the copper and cobalt producer. It also aligns with a strategic critical minerals partnership signed last December between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States. Implementation of that partnership is overseen by a coordination body that includes the mining minister and Gécamines leadership.
For the United States, engaged in a race to secure critical mineral supplies, Chemaf represents a near-turnkey asset. The company operates two active mines: Mutoshi, in Kolwezi, and Etoile, in Lubumbashi. Expansion projects at both sites are estimated to be at least 80% complete. An additional $300 million would be needed to complete the work. At full capacity, the two mines are expected to produce around 75,000 tonnes of copper cathodes and 25,000 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide per year.
In addition to permits leased from Gécamines, Chemaf holds around 60 titles, including about 30 exploitation permits across several provinces, according to the mining registry as of Sept. 30, 2025. The company carries close to $1 billion in debt.
Uncertainties
Washington is said to have backed Virtus to secure the asset. In recent months, several media outlets reported that officials from the National Security Council and the State Department applied diplomatic pressure on Congolese authorities in support of Virtus’s bid. That pressure appears to have overcome government reservations.
President Felix Tshisekedi had expressed doubts about Virtus’s financial and operational capacity to take over Chemaf, according to Africa Intelligence. The company, founded by former U.S. military personnel, has limited mining experience. In the DRC, it holds only a small metallurgical plant in Haut-Katanga, described by Africa Business+ as not comparable in scale to Chemaf’s operations.
Under the transfer agreement, Virtus would assume Chemaf’s debts and pay $30 million to shareholders. It also plans to hand over operations to Indian firm Lloyds Metals and Energy, which has limited experience in copper-cobalt projects, particularly in Africa. To finance the deal, Virtus has turned to New York-based Orion Resource Partners, which says it manages about $8.6 billion for institutional investors. No binding agreement has been signed to date.
The fate of Chemaf’s more than 3,000 direct employees and thousands of contractors remains unclear. In his letter, the mining minister is said to have noted only that the Congolese state and private Congolese interests should each hold a 10% stake in the company, in line with national legislation.
Kinshasa’s approval is a setback for Buenassa, a Congolese company that had hoped to acquire Chemaf to secure its raw material supply for more than 20 years. Buenassa, which is developing a refinery project, aimed to use the acquisition to accelerate vertical integration across extraction, refining, trading and strategic storage.
Pierre Mukoko
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has ordered tighter oversight of the creation of public funds, commissions, cells and state institutions, in a bid to rationalize government spending.
At the 82nd Council of Ministers meeting on March 13, 2026, Tshisekedi said any new public body must receive prior approval from the prime minister, who will assess its relevance, strategic value and financial impact before a final decision.
According to the council’s communiqué, the measure aims to improve management of public resources and curb the proliferation of structures deemed ineffective or redundant. The review will identify entities with clear utility, those of limited relevance, and cases of overlapping mandates or institutional duplication.
A review process already underway
The decision builds on measures launched several months ago. At the 74th Council of Ministers meeting on Jan. 9, 2026, Tshisekedi stressed the need for stronger budget discipline, describing spending rationalization as an “immediate, credible and indispensable lever” to preserve macroeconomic stability.
He called for the elimination of non-priority or insufficiently justified expenditures and requested a progress report from the prime minister on measures already under way.
The directive dates back to the 42nd Council of Ministers meeting on May 2, 2025, when the government was instructed to identify recently created public bodies, assess their added value and consider dissolving or restructuring those deemed unproductive or a drain on the budget. The results have not yet been made public.
Pressure on public finances
The move comes amid continued pressure on public finances. The 2026 budget law, promulgated in late December 2025, was set at about $22 billion, up from an initial draft of $20.3 billion presented in September.
In this context, the executive is seeking to contain operating costs, limit the dispersion of budgetary resources and focus spending on priorities, notably security, reconstruction and infrastructure.
Through these measures, the government aims to use administrative rationalization as a tool to strengthen budget discipline and improve public governance.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s standardized invoice reform could generate about $200 million in additional revenue by the end of 2026, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba said in an interview published by Geopolis Magazine on March 13, 2026.
The projection comes as value-added tax (VAT) accounts for a significant share of public revenue. According to the 2023 annual report of the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), 8,895 companies collected VAT on behalf of the state, totaling 2,776.2 billion Congolese francs, or 23.7% of tax revenue.
Authorities see tighter oversight of VAT as a key lever to mobilize domestic resources. The standardized invoice reform aims to strengthen the traceability of commercial transactions and limit fraud or under-reporting through secure billing tools connected to the tax administration.
Implementation accelerated early this year. On March 1, 2026, the Finance Ministry launched a support program for economic operators to facilitate compliance with the new system. The initiative includes the distribution of 4,000 electronic fiscal devices (EFDs) used to issue secure electronic invoices.
The equipment will be allocated to eligible operators on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available stock. Beneficiary companies must, however, cover certain related services, including activation, training and technical maintenance.
The reform is part of a broader process launched in 2025. In June 2025, the DGI began certifying company billing systems, with the objective of gradually restricting invoice issuance to software compliant with tax administration requirements.
Through the standardized invoice system, the government aims to strengthen VAT collection, improve tax transparency and boost domestic revenue amid increasing pressure on public finances.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened talks to update technical studies for the Pioka-Tombe hydroelectric project, a 6,450-MW cross-border hydropower project.
According to a statement published on March 12, 2026, Mines and Electricity Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo met in Milan with officials from Italian engineering firm Electroconsult, which conducted the site’s first technical studies in 1978.
The ministry said discussions focused on updating the project’s technical and economic studies, a prerequisite for relaunching the development. The objective is to refresh existing data ahead of the next phases of the project.
Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Italy, Electroconsult is an engineering and consulting firm involved in hydropower, geothermal energy, electricity and civil infrastructure projects.
At a Cabinet meeting on Jan. 9, 2026, Sakombi Molendo outlined several technical steps needed to revive Pioka-Tombe, including updating existing studies, conducting topographic surveys, carrying out pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and preparing a detailed preliminary design.
The minister also said an appropriate institutional and financial framework would be required to mobilize the investment needed to build the project.
Development of the site is also covered by a bilateral cooperation agreement between the DRC and the Republic of Congo. On Feb. 26, 2026, Sakombi Molendo and his Congolese counterpart Émile Ousso signed a memorandum of understanding on the hydroelectric development of the Pioka-Tombe site on the Congo River.
Once completed, the project could help ease Kinshasa’s power deficit, estimated at more than 1,000 MW, while supporting industrial development in Kongo Central and areas connected to the Inga grid.
Ronsard Luabeya
MCC Resources, a gold mining company operating in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has suspended operations at its Muchacha and Mavuvu sites in Mambasa territory following an armed attack on the night of March 11-12, 2026.
In a statement reported by local media, the company said it halted operations on March 12 until further notice after armed assailants breached the mine’s security perimeter. The attack led to looting and sabotage of the company’s facilities. MCC Resources said no casualties were reported at its sites, noting that it had evacuated personnel weeks before the incident as a precaution.
In a communiqué issued on March 15, 2026, the Congolese government strongly condemned the attack on the Muchacha mining sites. Authorities said the assault, attributed to the ADF and claimed by the Islamic State group, killed several people, sparked fires at the site and displaced civilian populations.
MCC Resources said it is closely monitoring the security situation before deciding whether to gradually resume operations. The company is among the gold miners operating in this part of Ituri. According to provisional 2025 mining statistics, it produced 168.47 kilograms of gold.
Muchacha, a key gold-producing area, has repeatedly faced incursions by armed groups. In August 2016, the locality was hit by an attack attributed to the Mai-Mai Simba that killed three people and led to several kidnappings. More recently, in January 2026, attacks attributed to the ADF in the Walese Vonkutu chieftaincy in Irumu territory killed at least 25 civilians, highlighting the persistent insecurity in the province.
Ronsard Luabeya
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Ferry crossings on the Kalelu River linking Lomami and Kasaï-Oriental provinces resumed on March 11-12, 2026, nearly a month after an accident on Feb. 13 halted traffic on the route.
The reopening was marked by a ceremony presided over by Kasaï-Oriental's provincial Finance Minister, Kabuya Mende Eli Elias, in the presence of representatives from Ngandajika territory and the Lomami General Directorate of Revenue.
Authorities said the reopening follows new safety rules. The maximum load per crossing has been set at 20 metric tons, and ferry operations are now restricted to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local officials said the measures aim to better regulate passenger and goods transport and reduce risks linked to overloading.
The crossing is vital to the movement of people and the flow of trade between the two provinces, particularly for the transport of agricultural produce and consumer goods. Its suspension following the February accident had severely disrupted traffic along the route.
The accident that triggered the shutdown occurred on Feb. 13, 2026, when a vehicle fell into the river during a maneuver connected to the ferry. In the immediate aftermath, eight people were reported missing, according to Radio Okapi. By the time service resumed, authorities reported an official toll of eight deaths, including six bodies recovered and two people still listed as missing, according to Actualite.cd.
With operations resuming under tighter supervision, provincial authorities say they aim to restore a vital service while enforcing stricter compliance with safety regulations to prevent another tragedy.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo officially launched its first pilot gold refinery in Kalemie, in Tanganyika province, on March 11, 2026. The facility, called DRC Gold Refinery, was set up through a partnership between state-owned company DRC Gold Trading and Lunga Mining, which is active in gold exploration and development in Maniema and Tanganyika provinces, the Ministry of Mines said in a statement on March 11, citing records from the Mining Registry (CAMI).
The refinery has an estimated production capacity of between 500 and 600 kilograms of gold per month, according to the ministry. The facility is described as handling the full chain from gold purchasing to refining and ingot production. Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba also said the unit should enable the DRC to export refined gold at 99.9% purity. The figures were provided by the ministry in official communications on the project.
The initiative is part of DRC Gold Trading's strategy to formalize artisanal gold trading. Authorities say the objective is to reduce losses linked to fraud and smuggling while increasing the share of value captured locally. For 2026, DRC Gold Trading aims to export between 15 and 18 metric tons of artisanal gold, as the government seeks to increase foreign currency inflows and improve traceability of gold from artisanal mining operations.
The Kalemie launch is not the DRC's first attempt at gold refining. In July 2023, Congo Gold Raffinerie, based in Bukavu, had its license revoked by the Ministry of Mines before it began operations. The official decision cited failure to meet social obligations, particularly those related to corporate social responsibility requirements. At the time, Congo Gold Raffinerie said it had planned to refine around 100 kilograms of gold at its Bukavu plant.
Ronsard Luabeya
Tshopo Provincial authorities have stepped up oversight of the petroleum products market in Kisangani, amid global market pressures and growing concern over fuel prices in the province.
In a communiqué published on March 10, 2026, the provincial government said the sale of fuel in drums or jerricans outside approved distribution channels remains prohibited. The measure aims to better regulate the distribution of petroleum products and limit speculative practices that could affect pump prices and consumer purchasing power.
The document states that special distribution arrangements remain permitted through the network linked to the Association des navigateurs fluviaux de Kisangani (Anaflukis), given the essential role of river transport in supplying the region.
According to authorities, the decision followed consultations with economic operators in the sector, held in the presence of the Fédération des entreprises du Congo (FEC/Tshopo). To enforce the measure, provincial technical services are to be deployed at service stations and distribution points.
The stated objective is to prevent abuses in the distribution chain, ensure the regular functioning of the local petroleum market and prevent unjustified price increases. The communiqué warned that speculation, excessive stockpiling and unjustified price hikes would be sanctioned in accordance with applicable regulations.
The provincial government and FEC/Tshopo said the measures are intended to protect consumers’ purchasing power and ensure a more consistent supply of petroleum products in the province. The decision comes after fuel prices in Kisangani had already exceeded official rates in recent months, highlighting the vulnerability of the local market to supply pressures and speculative practices.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo signed a concession agreement on March 12 with Boston Developers Ltd for the development of the Congolese dry port at Kwala, Tanzania. The announcement was made in an official statement from the Ministry of Transport and Waterways.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba and his Tanzanian counterpart, Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa, who both welcomed the strengthening of economic cooperation between the DRC and Tanzania.
In its statement, the transport ministry did not disclose the terms of the partnership. It said only that the signing of the agreement marked a milestone in the development of the Congolese logistics project at Kwala. The dry port is intended to facilitate customs clearance operations, improve tracking of Congolese freight for both imports and exports, and help curb trade fraud.
The Congolese project is part of the wider development of the Kwala logistics hub, which was inaugurated on July 31, 2025, by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Located approximately 90 kilometers from the port of Dar es Salaam, the logistics hub includes a dry port, a connection to the standard gauge railway network and facilities for freight transport and storage.
According to Tanzanian authorities, the infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce transit times for goods between the port of Dar es Salaam and landlocked countries in Central Africa. Transit times, which previously reached 15 to 16 days, may be reduced to around five to six days through the site's integrated rail and logistics network.
Strengthening Access to the Central Corridor
Under the agreement, the DRC has been allocated approximately 45 hectares at the Kwala site to develop facilities for handling Congolese freight. The country also has access to a logistics site at Katosho, located in Kigoma on the Tanzanian shore of Lake Tanganyika, to facilitate trade with eastern Congo.
Through the project, Kinshasa is seeking to strengthen its access to the Central Corridor, improve freight management for the Congolese market and deepen economic cooperation with Tanzania. The project is part of the government's strategy to secure trade corridors, improve the flow of foreign trade and reduce logistics costs for Congolese importers and exporters.
The selection of a private partner to develop the infrastructure had been announced in 2025 by Deputy Prime Minister Bemba, who said at the time that the Congolese government was in the final stages of selecting an operator for the logistics sites at Kwala and Katosho.
Boston Developers Ltd, described as a company active in engineering, construction and infrastructure and real estate project development across several regions of the world, was ultimately selected to develop the Congolese dry port at Kwala.
Boaz Kabeya