News (878)
Donors pledged more than $200 million to fund the Democratic Republic of Congo’s second general population and housing census (RGPH2) at a roundtable in Kinshasa on March 23, the presidency said.
World Bank country director Albert Zeufack said the institution is considering providing $100 million, with most of it allocated to the census. “Subject to board approval and the government meeting the conditions required to launch the project, the World Bank plans a $100 million programme, including $75 million for the census,” he said. The remaining funds would go toward strengthening the national statistical system, including institutions, staff training and data systems at both national and provincial levels.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is considering contributing $80 million, divided between $50 million for census operations and $30 million for institutional capacity-building. This component will support the National Statistics Institute (INS) and other agencies involved in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. The aim is to ensure the census is carried out efficiently, transparently and sustainably. The proposal is still under review and is expected to be submitted to the AfDB board before the end of the year.
U.N. agencies will support the census in three ways. The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF have committed $3 million to launch initial activities. Several agencies will also provide technical, logistical and communications support, including coordination with the agricultural census. UNFPA will lead the effort and manage the funds through a basket fund in coordination with the authorities and partners.
What’s at stake
Côte d’Ivoire also pledged in-kind support, including technical assistance and equipment. This includes sharing experience in logistics, administration and financial management, as well as training Congolese technical and cartographic teams. The country also plans to provide 3,000 tablets and related equipment for mapping operations. Cooperation is already underway following a Congolese technical mission to Abidjan from March 9 to 13. A visit led by Planning Minister Guylain Nyembo is scheduled from March 30 to April 5 and is expected to lead to the signing of a framework agreement.
The roundtable comes as the DRC steps up preparations for the census, 42 years after the last one in 1984. Since then, the population has grown from about 30 million to nearly 112.8 million, according to the authorities, highlighting the need for updated data to guide public policy.
In his opening address, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi stressed the stakes, warning that “continuing to plan without complete, reliable and up-to-date demographic data would amount to governing without visibility and weaken the state’s ability to respond to people’s needs.” He said the census would allow the government to base decisions on reliable data. The state has already contributed $30 million to the basket fund managed by UNFPA.
At a cabinet meeting on January 30, the government described the roundtable as a strategic effort to secure funding for the project, whose total cost is estimated at $192 million. It said financing the project within current budget constraints was difficult, justifying the use of a basket fund to pool contributions from partners. The pledges announced exceed the estimated cost, potentially covering all identified needs. The next step is to turn commitments into action, as UNFPA Acting Executive Director Diene Keita said.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially commissioned the Kakobola hydropower plant in Gungu territory, Kwilu province. The facility was inaugurated on March 23, 2026, by Water Resources and Electricity Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo, the ministry said.
With an installed capacity of 10.5 MW, the run-of-river plant marks a step toward reviving electrification in the region.
The project includes not only the generating unit but also transmission lines, substations and distribution networks to supply Kikwit, Gungu and Idiofa, as well as several rural areas in Kwilu. Earlier reports also mentioned the Catholic missions of Totshi and Aten, along with the village of Butshamba, among the areas to be connected.
The commissioning is expected to ease chronic electricity shortages that have long constrained economic activity in the region. The ministry said the plant could supply power to more than 400,000 people, with potential benefits for small and medium-sized businesses, local trade, and essential services such as health and education. Authorities describe the project as a driver of the provincial economy.
The launch follows repeated delays. At the Makutano Forum on Nov. 26, 2025, Sakombi Molendo said the plant would enter service within 45 to 47 days, which would have put commissioning around January 2026, adding that technical, financial and legal hurdles had been resolved. The government had also authorized a direct procurement procedure to speed up the selection of an operator. No operator has yet been named.
More than a decade after the project began, Kakobola now serves as a test of the country’s energy policy. Its impact will depend on the reliability of production, the expansion of connections and its ability to turn new electricity supply into sustained economic activity in Kwilu.
Boaz Kabeya
Long queues formed at gas stations across several districts of Kinshasa on March 23, 2026, as persistent rumors of an imminent fuel shortage prompted drivers to rush to distribution points and stock up as a precaution.
The surge in panic buying put pressure on stations, sharply increasing demand. According to accounts collected on the ground, some stations experienced temporary stockouts.
Congestion at fuel stations also spilled over into traffic. On the morning of Tuesday, March 24, large crowds at the BAT station on Avenue Poids-Lourds in Kingabwa, in the commune of Limete, worsened gridlock already typical at that hour.
Congolese authorities have nonetheless sought to reassure the public about near-term fuel availability following the outbreak of the security crisis in the Middle East. Hydrocarbons Minister Acacia Bandubola reiterated those assurances after visiting SEP Congo facilities on March 23. “I want to reassure the population that there is no fuel shortage in Kinshasa or elsewhere in the country. Stock coverage is assured, according to data provided by SEP Congo,” she said.
Series of measures
In a joint communiqué published on March 23, the ministries of National Economy and Hydrocarbons announced a series of measures aimed at securing supply. These include reducing certain costs related to the import and transport of petroleum products, as well as strengthening the advance payment mechanism for companies in the sector to support cash flow and ensure continuity of imports. The authorities also plan to speed up customs clearance procedures to improve product availability on the market.
The measures follow decisions taken at the 82nd Council of Ministers meeting on March 13, 2026, where the government stated that available stocks could meet the country’s needs through June. Several shipments of petroleum products are also expected in the coming weeks to bolster inventory levels.
According to a March 9 statement, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons had already begun preparations to build a strategic stockpile of at least 50,000 metric tons of fuel, including both ground and aviation fuels. The initiative aims to secure national supply amid disruptions to international energy markets linked to security tensions in the Middle East.
Ronsard Luabeya
Two new projects aimed at strengthening trade and boosting youth employment prospects along the Lobito Corridor were launched on March 17, 2026, in Kolwezi, in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Funded by the European Union, the initiatives have a combined budget of 11 million euros. They are part of broader efforts to develop a strategic logistics route serving regional mining exports.
The first project, allocated 6 million euros, is designed to improve the flow of trade along the Lobito Corridor. It includes simplifying customs procedures, building institutional capacity and improving coordination among the authorities involved in goods transit. The program is being implemented with support from TradeMark Africa, an organization specializing in trade facilitation across the continent.
Youth Employment and Digital Skills
The second project, funded at 5 million euros, aims to improve youth employment prospects by developing digital skills. It includes training sessions, bootcamps and support programs designed to ease entry into a changing job market. This component is being implemented in partnership with technical partners, including German development cooperation.
The two projects are part of a coordinated European Union approach to strengthen value chains linked to critical minerals while supporting local economic development.
The Lobito Corridor connects the mining zones of southeastern DRC to port infrastructure in Angola and serves as a key route for copper and cobalt exports. Its development is seen as a strategic lever to improve the competitiveness of Congolese exports and promote regional integration.
Through these initiatives, the European Union aims to combine support for trade infrastructure with investment in human capital, as part of its Global Gateway strategy in Africa.
PM
President Felix Tshisekedi has called for the creation of a “reliable, sustainable and transparent” mechanism to ensure regular funding for Congolese diplomats and the country’s missions abroad.
The directive was issued at the 83rd Cabinet meeting held on March 20, 2026, at the African Union City in Kinshasa. According to the official minutes, the president highlighted the strategic role of diplomats in defending national interests, promoting the country’s image, advancing international cooperation, attracting investment and protecting Congolese citizens abroad.
To advance the plan, Tshisekedi tasked the deputy prime ministers in charge of the budget and civil service, along with the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, and infrastructure, with accelerating a comprehensive assessment of the operating costs of all diplomatic missions and staff abroad. The review will cover salaries, rent, operating expenses and outstanding obligations to suppliers.
Based on this assessment, the ministers must propose a structured and secure mechanism, potentially involving commercial banks. The aim is to ensure the direct and regular payment of salaries for diplomatic and administrative staff, as well as rent for embassy offices and residences, operating costs, and payments to suppliers and service providers.
Persistent financial pressures
The mechanism is expected to ensure predictable payments, traceable financial flows and compliance with public finance rules. Tshisekedi said the initiative also seeks to restore the dignity of Congolese representations abroad and strengthen the country’s international image.
The directive comes as several Congolese diplomatic missions continue to face financial difficulties. According to AfricaNews, as of Feb. 17, 2026, salary arrears for December 2025 and January and February 2026 remained unpaid, while several rent payments were still frozen. The outlet also reported blockages in payment channels despite some administrative approvals, as well as checks linked to irregularities in certain lease contracts.
AfricaNews also reported that a technical arrangement introduced in 2024 by the ministries of budget, finance and foreign affairs to cover rental payments has faced resistance from landlords, partly due to payment terms and related tax implications.
Against this backdrop, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Noella Ayeganagato proposed a working session to clarify procedures and required documentation for processing payments, including invoices and bank details.
With the new directive, the government aims to move away from ad hoc and often chaotic management toward a more stable, transparent and secure system. Beyond administration, the issue affects the country’s international credibility and its ability to maintain the normal functioning of its diplomatic network.
Boaz Kabeya
Congolese authorities are preparing a new turnaround plan for Congo Airways SA, including a sweeping overhaul of the state carrier’s governance, according to official minutes from the Council of Ministers’ March 20 meeting.
At that session, President Félix Tshisekedi reviewed findings from a joint investigative mission conducted in December 2025 by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF), the Superior Portfolio Council (CSP) and the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC). The mission examined complaints raised by a group of employees and assessed compliance, financial management and operational performance at Congo Airways.
Despite a government-backed emergency plan launched in September 2023, the airline continues to face serious operational failures that undermine any sustainable recovery, the minutes said. The situation exposes the state, as shareholder, to significant legal, financial and reputational risks.
The Council also warned that without tighter planning and stronger governance, the continued deterioration could jeopardize the fleet renewal process, particularly aircraft recently acquired by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). Tshisekedi called for full transparency on how those aircraft were acquired, financed and capitalised within the company.
An updated plan
In response, the president instructed the deputy prime minister in charge of transport, the finance minister and the portfolio minister, under the prime minister’s supervision, to develop a revised recovery plan that is realistic and financially sound. The plan must include clear internal control mechanisms, stronger regulatory compliance, a full audit of human resources management and regular reporting to the state shareholder.
Those measures are expected to underpin a comprehensive overhaul of Congo Airways’ governance, with the aim of restoring management discipline, strengthening accountability, improving transparency in decision-making and aligning practices with international governance standards.
The reform should also establish a more effective management model based on performance, financial sustainability and operational efficiency, ensuring the airline’s long-term viability, competitiveness in the air transport market and protection of the state’s strategic interests. The minutes added that the government is expected to clear outstanding payments owed to Congo Airways so the airline can mobilize the resources needed for its recovery.
The company has already taken initial operational steps. In January 2026, Congo Airways launched a recruitment drive for nine captains, nine co-pilots and four maintenance technicians, following delivery of the first of three aircraft acquired by the CNSS.
While these steps indicate that recovery efforts are underway, the Council of Ministers’ conclusions make clear that any lasting turnaround will require a deeper overhaul of the airline’s governance, finances and operations.
Boaz Kabeya
Shalina Healthcare held a groundbreaking ceremony on March 16, 2026, for a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the Kin-Malebo special economic zone, located in the N'Sele commune of Kinshasa. According to the Congolese Press Agency (ACP), construction is set to begin on May 1, 2026, with construction expected to last 20 months and completion scheduled for January 5, 2028.
ACP reported that the project is part of a broader strategy to strengthen local pharmaceutical production in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Group Managing Director Abbas Virji said the initiative aims to reduce the country's dependence on imports and improve access to medicines.
Shalina Healthcare says it has been present in the DRC for more than 40 years. According to its website, the company operates more than 30 distribution points in the country, including in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Bukavu, Matadi and Kisangani, and sells more than 200 prescription drugs, over-the-counter products and consumer health brands. It adds that it relies on WHO-approved production facilities in India and China for its international supply chain.
Local pharmaceutical production remains limited in the DRC, despite the existence of a few manufacturing units. Official records list Pharmakina, based in Bukavu, among the facilities authorized to produce locally, along with the Phatkin laboratory in Kinshasa. Pharmakina is a longstanding producer of quinine and cinchona-derived products. Other market players, such as Pharmans, focus on import, distribution and pharmaceutical promotion, with no reference to local manufacturing in their company information.
In this context, Shalina's project adds to existing local capacity and underscores efforts by Congolese authorities and private investors to expand domestic pharmaceutical production. Its location in the Kin-Malebo special economic zone is part of broader efforts to develop industrial infrastructure around Kinshasa.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola will hold the third edition of their bilateral economic forum in Kinshasa from March 31 to April 3, 2026.
Vice-Prime Minister in charge of the National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba announced the event at a Council of Ministers meeting on March 20. He also provided an update on preparations, according to the official report, which said the forum is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries and build a more structured economic partnership between Kinshasa and Luanda.
The change reflects a revision to the original schedule. In October 2025, authorities said the forum would take place in February 2026 in Muanda, in Kongo Central province. The Congolese government has since moved the event to Kinshasa at the end of March.
The meeting follows several weeks of consultations between the two countries. On March 16, a preparatory session of the DRC-Angola interministerial commission was held in Luanda to review ways to boost bilateral economic cooperation. Statements issued after the meeting said discussions focused on a future agreement covering trade in goods and services, investment, transport, logistics, industrial cooperation and the development of border areas.
The Kinshasa forum is part of a process launched in 2023. The first edition opened in Kinshasa on July 31 that year, focusing on economic partnership for shared growth. The second was held in Luanda on November 13-14, 2023, and was led by then Vice-Prime Minister Vital Kamerhe.
Beyond economic ties, closer cooperation between the two countries has also extended to security. On February 12, 2026, they signed an agreement in Luanda to establish a Permanent Joint Defence and Security Commission aimed at formalising coordination on regional and border issues.
PM
President Felix Tshisekedi has instructed sector ministries and the provincial government of Kongo Central to finalize cooperation agreements with the Agency for the Development and Promotion of the Grand Inga Project (ADPI-RDC) within 60 days. The directive was issued during a Council of Ministers meeting on March 20, 2026.
According to the official report, the relevant ministers must sign the agreements under the supervision of the prime minister. Copies must be sent to financial partners by April 3, 2026, at the latest. A progress report is expected within five days of that deadline. The move aims to speed up the establishment of the project's governance structure, after financing agreements with the World Bank took effect on Feb. 2, 2026.
At the same time, the head of state asked the government to urgently review the draft law on the Grand Inga project. The aim is for the Council of Ministers to adopt the text on March 27, 2026, before it is submitted to parliament by March 31. Officials describe the text as a key element in strengthening the project’s institutional framework and a requirement for mobilizing the financial support agreed with the World Bank.
Currently, the Inga 3 project is still in the preparation phase. The World Bank says its technical and financial details have not yet been finalized. Options under consideration could result in capacity ranging from about 3,000 MW to 11,000 MW, with total costs estimated at more than $10 billion.
To support this phase, a dedicated development program has been set up with World Bank backing. Part of a financing framework that could reach $1 billion, the program will be rolled out in stages. The first $250 million tranche was approved in June 2025. It aims to strengthen institutional capacity, prepare related infrastructure, and better manage the project’s economic, social and regional impacts.
Ronsard Luabeya
Equity Bank Congo posted a net profit of 24.7 billion Kenyan shillings in 2025, up 58% from about 15.6 billion a year earlier, according to full-year results published by Equity Group Holdings on March 18, 2026. Based on the group’s implied exchange rate, this corresponds to roughly $191.5 million.
Equity Group’s consolidated net profit reached 75.5 billion shillings in 2025, or about $585 million, with the Congo subsidiary contributing around 32.7% of the total.
The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the group’s top profit-generating subsidiary, well ahead of Rwanda (5.4 billion shillings), Uganda (3.6 billion) and Tanzania (2.7 billion). Equity Group said the Congo unit’s performance was supported in part by a 17% expansion in its loan portfolio.
Equity Group’s share price on the Nairobi Securities Exchange has reflected this momentum. Between March 19, 2025 and March 19, 2026, the stock rose from 47.35 shillings to 76.50 shillings, a gain of about 61.6%.
At a hypothetical exchange rate of 129 shillings to the dollar, a $300 investment would have bought about 817 shares, worth roughly $485 a year later. Under the same assumptions, a $1,000 investment would have represented around 2,724 shares, with a value of about $1,615 at the same date.
Dividend raised 35%
The board has recommended a total dividend of 21.7 billion shillings, or 5.75 shillings per share, up 35.3% from 16 billion shillings, or 4.25 per share, paid for 2024.
Subject to shareholder approval, the dividend will be paid to shareholders on the register at the close of business on May 22, 2026. At the same exchange rate, the two hypothetical investors would receive about $36 and $121 in dividends, respectively.
In its macroeconomic commentary, Equity Group said growth across several East African economies, including the DRC, is being driven by a minerals boom. It cited higher prices for gold, copper and coffee, alongside lower oil and wheat prices and a weaker dollar, as supporting regional activity.
The bank added that despite heightened geopolitical risks linked to the conflict involving Iran, the impact on the regional economy should be temporary. It expects oil prices, after peaking near $100 a barrel, to fall toward the mid-$60s in the event of a ceasefire, helping stabilise trade and inflation.
Timothée Manoke
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The Democratic Republic of Congo signed a geological data partnership agreement with the European Union on March 19 in Kinshasa. Congo's mines minister, Louis Watum, and the EU delegation's chargé d'affaires ad interim in the DRC, Fabrice Basile, signed the accord, under which the country will participate in PanAfGeo+ Invest, an EU-funded program aimed at strengthening geological services and subsurface data management across Africa.
In the DRC, the program will consolidate the national geoscientific database, preserve historical archives, carry out geological surveys across several provinces and conduct studies in selected artisanal mining areas. The objective is twofold: to improve knowledge of Congo's subsoil and to better guide investment decisions.
PanAfGeo+ Invest builds on the original PanAfGeo program, which ran from 2016 to 2024 and trained nearly 1,750 African geoscientists. Through the new program, the EU plans to invest 45 million euros across seven African countries between 2026 and 2029 to support technological capacity and geoscience development. The DRC will receive nearly 11 million euros, or roughly a quarter of the total funding.
BRGM's Coordinating Role
For the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières (BRGM), which coordinates the program, the aim is to support projects aligned with European partners’ priorities. In that context, the EU announced on March 19 an additional 6 million euros to complete the digitization of geological archives held at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium. The digitization project, which began in 2023, is one of the reasons Brussels has cited for opposing a separate digitization contract the DRC awarded to American company KoBold Metals covering the same archives.
The fate of the KoBold Metals contract remains unclear. "The country’s subsoil is part of its national heritage. All partners who help us better understand this heritage are welcome. We will work with them," mines minister Watum said.
These developments expand the EU’s access to geological data in the DRC, which has become a strategic lever in the international competition for critical minerals. Earlier this year, Spanish company Xcalibur also secured a $298 million contract for airborne geophysical mapping and geological survey work across the DRC.
Boaz Kabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo is undergoing an ICAO civil aviation security audit at N’djili airport in Kinshasa and Luano airport in Lubumbashi from March 18 to 30, 2026.
According to the Transport Ministry, the mission is part of routine international oversight of aviation security standards. ICAO experts met with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba to discuss the objectives of the evaluation, coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC/RDC).
The audit aims to assess compliance with international requirements, evaluate progress made in recent years and identify gaps.
AAC/RDC data show that the country’s compliance rate rose from 11.4% in 2006 to 50% in 2018 and 66.52% in 2023, indicating steady improvement in oversight.
Ahead of the audit, Bemba conducted an inspection at Luano International Airport in Lubumbashi on March 17, focusing on strengthening security systems, including the commissioning of new screening equipment acquired by the Régie des voies aériennes (RVA), the national airport authority.
Separately, RVA signed a 10-year partnership in May 2024 with British company Westminster Group PLC. The agreement includes the deployment of international experts, staff training and the modernization of security equipment at five airports: Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, Kisangani and Mbuji-Mayi.
The government has also launched an airport lighting program to improve operations. In November 2025, authorities announced the acquisition of around 350 kilometers of cables to equip several airport facilities.
The program is expected to expand airport capacity, particularly by enabling night operations, as many secondary facilities are currently limited to daytime flights.
Ronsard Luabeya
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a three-day training session for economic journalists in Kinshasa from March 17 to 19, 2026, in collaboration with Ecofin Agency and Bankable. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the capacity of media professionals covering economic and financial issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Fifteen journalists from various media outlets in the capital participated in the program. Over three days, the training introduced participants to key macroeconomic concepts at the national, regional and international levels, with the aim of improving their ability to analyze, interpret and contextualize economic and financial information.
The curriculum covered macroeconomic fundamentals, the functioning of fiscal and monetary policy, the role of the IMF, and the use of artificial intelligence in processing economic data. Particular emphasis was placed on making these concepts easier for a wider audience to understand.
Speaking at the opening session, IMF resident representative in the DRC René Tapsoba highlighted the role of journalists in disseminating clear and reliable economic information. In a context marked by economic reforms and structural challenges, he said high-quality news coverage is critical to strengthening transparency and accountability.
“In the era of digitalization and social media, where information spreads rapidly and is not always well analyzed, it is essential to have journalists who rely on credible sources, understand the underlying issues and explain them clearly,” he said.
Idriss Linge, director of Ecofin Academy and lead trainer, stressed the importance of equipping journalists with strong analytical skills to better interpret macroeconomic developments and their impact on the population.
“The objective is to train journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo who can analyze economic developments rigorously using established tools, for investors, development partners, as well as Congolese households and businesses,” he said at the close of the session, which he co-led with Aboudi Ottou, Ecofin Agency’s bureau chief in the DRC and editor-in-chief of Bankable.
At the end of the training, participants said they were satisfied with both the quality of the sessions and their relevance to daily reporting. They particularly valued the interactive discussions and case studies based on the national economic context.
Jerome Sekana, a journalist with Agence Galaxie Médias, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the relevance of the content.
“The trainers are highly experienced and the examples reflect the country’s economic realities. I hope this type of initiative continues to help build a strong pool of analysts capable of interpreting economic news,” he said.
Myriam Iragi, a journalist with Top Congo FM, also welcomed the training, highlighting the practical knowledge she gained.
“I learned a great deal about concepts I had sometimes used without fully understanding them. This training gives me a solid foundation to improve my analysis and provide more in-depth coverage,” she said.
Ronsard Luabeya
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines said on March 18, 2026, it had deployed a joint inspection mission to the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) site, a subsidiary of China Molybdenum Company (CMOC), following allegations of air pollution affecting communities in Lualaba province.
The decision followed a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) citing deteriorating air quality around the mine.
The ministry said the allegations are, at this stage, largely based on unverified claims that have not been confirmed through scientific and technical methods.
The mission will conduct in-depth technical assessments, including air quality monitoring, checks on industrial discharge compliance, and verification of adherence to environmental and social standards. A report is expected at the end of the investigation and could lead to administrative, environmental or judicial action.
The decision to deploy the mission was made during a consultation meeting with TFM executives on March 18. The company was also asked to provide evidence of compliance with its environmental obligations.
EIA report focuses on processing plant
The EIA report focuses primarily on TFM’s processing plant, known as 30K, where CMOC converts copper-cobalt ore into cobalt hydroxide.
The plant, the largest of its kind globally, was commissioned in 2023. Since then, the report says, elevated sulfur dioxide levels have been recorded in the area, along with a rise in respiratory illnesses.
The NGO said its findings are based on an analysis of more than 1,200 medical records, citing cases of coughs, bronchitis and pneumonia among nearby residents and some workers. TFM disputes the findings and rejects any link between its operations and the reported health problems.
The inspection comes as authorities step up environmental oversight in DR Congo’s mining sector. In January 2026, they required mining companies to provide proof that financial guarantees for site rehabilitation had been secured and to submit approved environmental plans.
CMOC is one of the leading mining operators in DR Congo. Through its subsidiaries TFM and Kisanfu, the group exported 747,468 metric tons of copper in 2025, according to provisional data, accounting for 22% of the country’s total exports.
The company is also a major cobalt producer. Before the 2025 embargo, it exported nearly 96,000 metric tons of cobalt, representing about 50% of national output.
Ronsard Luabeya