News (854)
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
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
The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering building a strategic reserve of at least 50,000 tonnes of ground and aviation fuels to reduce the risk of supply disruptions, state broadcaster RTNC reported.
The option was discussed at a meeting chaired by Hydrocarbons Minister Acacia Bandubola Mbongo on March 9, 2026, amid heightened tensions on global oil markets.
The proposed reserve would cover only a small share of national demand. The DRC imports all of its refined petroleum products. According to the 2023 report from the Central Bank of The Congo, the country’s consumption stood at 2,804,698 cubic metres that year. Using standard conversion factors, that corresponds to roughly 2.3 to 2.4 million tonnes annually.
A 50,000-tonne reserve would therefore represent about 2% of yearly consumption, equivalent to only a few days of supply.
Recent demand trends suggest the gap could be even larger. After a pump-price reduction on Oct. 3, 2024, fuel demand at filling stations in Kinshasa tripled to about 4,500 cubic metres per day from 1,500 previously, according to the Ministry of National Economy.
RTNC did not say whether the planned reserve would come on top of existing legal requirements. According to the Hydrocarbons Ministry, the state is supposed to maintain minimum reserves equivalent to 60 days of consumption across different petroleum products. By the authorities' own admission, that target has not been met.
RTNC also reported that the government plans to make advance payments starting in early April to cover losses and foregone revenues from the first quarter of 2026, allowing oil companies to replenish fuel stocks. The downstream sector remains vulnerable to delays in compensation payments and cash-flow pressures.
The plan suggests authorities expect a reversal of the trend observed in 2025. The state said it recorded gains rather than losses in part of last year. It reported more than $22 million in the fourth quarter in the western zone, traditionally loss-making, and more than $44 million in the second quarter in the southern, eastern and northern zones, which are generally profitable.
Officials also discussed creating a mechanism to closely monitor developments in global oil markets, with stronger coordination between the Hydrocarbons Ministry and the Congo Central Bank to anticipate price swings and adjust pricing policies quickly.
Middle East tensions
The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted energy markets. Fighting has forced production shutdowns and logistical disruptions in several Gulf countries, major hydrocarbon producers, affecting oil and gas exports from the Middle East.
The situation has been compounded by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which a large share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes.
In a note published on March 10, 2026, UNCTAD said the strait handles around 20 million barrels per day, representing nearly 25% of global seaborne oil trade. The agency said the route is one of the world's main energy chokepoints and that recent disruptions have revived concerns about global supply.
The tensions have quickly pushed prices higher. Brent crude repeatedly rose above $100 a barrel and briefly approached $120 on March 9.
Pierre Mukoko & Boaz Kabeya
DR Congo's Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock approved an agreement with poultry company Egg's For Congo in February 2026 for the management and operation of a major poultry project in Kinshasa. According to a notice published by the ARMP, the project is valued at $7 million and will run for 10 years under a régie intéressée contract, a form of public service management arrangement.
Public documents link the agreement to a public-private partnership (PPP) project listed in the 2026–2028 Public Investment Program, titled "PPP Project for the Establishment of Parent Farms and Industrial Hatcheries in Kinshasa." A PPP refers to a collaboration in which a government partners with a private company to finance, build or operate a public project or service.
In that document, the private partner is also Egg's For Congo, the planned duration is 10 years, and the cost was still estimated at $11 million as of July 17, 2025, with a favorable opinion issued subject to the incorporation of observations and recommendations.
Documents reviewed indicate that both references concern the same project. However, the public documents do not explain with certainty why the total cost dropped from $11 million to $7 million between July 2025 and February 2026.
The contract is structured as a régie intéressée, a modality provided for under Congolese public procurement law. Under this type of contract, the government retains ownership and overall responsibility for the service but entrusts its management to an operator, which receives a fixed fee along with a share linked to the service's operating results.
Egg's For Congo describes itself, on its website, as a company active in the poultry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to information on that platform, the project was launched in 2014 by Jean-Pierre Mwipata, Didier Molisho and Hanno Kiezebrink, with the goal of promoting the development of the poultry sector in the country. The company says it is involved in the sale of SASSO chicks, the production and importation of poultry feed, the importation and distribution of veterinary medicines and poultry equipment, as well as technical and management training for farming operations. The company had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Drive to Revive the Poultry Sector
The deal comes against the backdrop of a broader effort to revive the poultry sector. On Oct. 18, 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a pilot program to restart poultry production in the DRC. The program is set to span eight production hubs across the country to structure poultry supply chains and create synergies between modern and smallholder poultry farming, with the stated aim of strengthening food security and sovereignty.
Separately, the DRC opened discussions with Chinese partners in March 2025 on a project to produce 5 million chicks per year. The plan would involve the annual importation of 50,000 parent breeding pairs, alongside technology transfers and training support for farmers. Those talks remain at the cooperation discussion stage and do not represent a program already under implementation.
The authorities' interest in poultry is driven by the country's persistent dependence on imports. According to data from the Central Bank of Congo, the national poultry flock was estimated at more than 18.9 million head in 2023, but domestic production remains insufficient to meet internal demand. According to Trade Map, imports of poultry meat rose from 122,964 tonnes in 2019 to more than 142,300 tonnes in 2023, while the associated import bill grew from $66.4 million to nearly $91 million over the same period.
In this context, the project validated with Egg's For Congo can be seen as one element of a broader strategy to strengthen the local supply of chicks and poultry inputs. At this stage, however, public documents do not provide a full operational timeline for the PPP, a detailed investment breakdown, or the specific observations made by the UC-PPP before issuing its favorable opinion.
Timothée Manoke
A fire broke out Tuesday morning at Beni Airport, commonly known as Mavivi, in North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The airport is currently undergoing upgrade work.
According to Radio Okapi, the blaze started in the kitchen of a restaurant inside the terminal building. The wooden structure was rapidly consumed by the flames.
The fire completely destroyed the building, which housed a passenger waiting area, check-in counters and administrative offices of the Civil Aviation Authority (RVA). North Kivu’s military governor, Evariste Somo Kakule, said the building had been constructed in 2010.
Major General Evariste Somo Kakule visited the site after the incident and said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the fire. He ruled out the possibility of an attack. The Beni area remains security-sensitive due to the presence of armed groups.
Fire response operations were led by teams from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), which deployed fire trucks in coordination with the Congolese National Police (PNC). Teams worked to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby installations, including parked aircraft and fuel depots.
Despite the damage, air traffic continued. According to local sources, passenger and baggage screening is now being carried out temporarily in the open air.
The incident comes as Mavivi Airport is undergoing a modernization project aimed at upgrading it to international status. The works were officially launched in December 2025 by Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza. The project includes extending the runway to about 3,600 meters in length and 45 meters in width.
The project, being carried out by the company Services Vihumbira (SSV), aims to provide the region with modern airport infrastructure, improve connectivity and support the economic development of North Kivu.
Timothée Manoke
The World Bank is considering extending its Transforme project along the Lobito Corridor in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zouhour Karray, the Bank’s Senior Private Sector Specialist, said after a two-week mission to the country.
Speaking in an interview published on the project’s YouTube channel on March 6, 2026, Karray said the initiative forms part of a corridor-based development strategy aimed at linking infrastructure investment with the growth of local entrepreneurship.
Three corridors are currently under consideration: the Lobito Corridor, the Kongo Central Corridor and an axis stretching from Mbuji-Mayi to Bukavu, which she described as a “peace corridor.”
Preliminary assessments have identified five cities in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces as priority areas: Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi, Fungurume and Mutshatsha. Karray stressed that the selection remains provisional and that evaluations are ongoing.
The two-week mission focused on assessing the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, the region’s economic potential and the specific needs of SMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs.
“In the coming stages, we will have a clearer picture of the instruments that will be deployed at the provincial level, as well as opportunities to support business climate reforms,” she said.
The preparation phase for the proposed expansion is expected to run until June 2026, with implementation planned to begin afterwards. The World Bank is also considering extending the project by two years and providing additional financing to support the scale-up.
The Transforme project was approved by the World Bank in May 2022 with a budget of $300 million. It aims to support the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those owned or led by women, through grants, improved access to finance and business environment reforms. The project is currently scheduled to close on Sept. 30, 2027.
In February 2025, national project coordinator Alexis Mangala said the project’s geographic scope was limited to the cities of Bukavu, Bunia, Goma, Kananga, Kinshasa and Mbuji-Mayi, as well as the Kasangulu–Muanda corridor, which includes Kasangulu, Kisantu, Mbanza-Ngungu, Kimpese, Matadi, Boma and Muanda.
If approved, the Lobito Corridor expansion would mark a significant new phase in the project’s deployment rather than a minor extension of its current footprint.
Ronsard Luabeya
(AML HOLDINGS LLC) - AML Holdings LLC announced the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with Kerith Resources SARL dated 28 June 2025 in relation to the proposed joint venture manganese mining initiative in Kongo Central province, DRC with Kerith Resources SARL with effect from 2nd February 2026.
AML Holdings LLC announced the termination of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with Kerith Resources SARL dated 28 June 2025 in relation to the proposed joint venture manganese mining initiative in Kongo Central province, DRC with Kerith Resources SARL with effect from 2nd February 2026.
The decision follows extensive negotiations on the draft Shareholders’ Agreement and a thorough assessment of the project's legal and operational framework. Despite dedicated efforts since the conclusion of TICAD 9 to identify a legally robust pathway for licensing, and multiple engagements with Kerith Resources SARL, mutually acceptable terms could not be reached due to discrepancies in the approach to obtaining the mining permits and misalignments on shareholders’ rights and responsibilities.
AML Holdings LLC remains committed to responsible investment in the critical minerals sector if there are any potential opportunities and wishes Kerith Resources SARL success in its future endeavors.
Any other public announcements made in connection with AML's investment in the DRC may not be accurate or complete. The Company shall not be held responsible and expressly disclaims any liability for them.
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The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP) published a decision on March 4, 2026, concerning the contract for the acquisition and installation of equipment to digitize payments for the Infrastructure Development Tax, known as the Go-Pass. According to the document, the contract was awarded to Mayeles SAS for a total amount of $4.069 million including tax. The decision was signed on March 2, 2026 by Blaise Londole Lokoy, Director General of the Régie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), the state-owned company that manages airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The award remains provisional. Under Congolese public procurement rules, unsuccessful bidders have five business days to file an appeal. If no appeal is submitted, or once any challenges are reviewed, the award may become final and the contract can be signed.
The project stems from an international tender launched by the RVA on September 23, 2025, for the supply of machinery, hardware and software to digitize the collection of the airport tax. The initiative aims to replace the current collection system, which relies on paper coupons issued to passengers after payment.
Addressing systemic revenue leakage
The manual system has frequently been criticized for control failures. These include booklets with identical serial numbers in circulation, parallel coupon issuance channels, and persistent difficulties in tracking the total revenue generated by the tax.
During the Makutano Forum in November 2025, Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba said two banks had submitted offers to finance the digitalization project. He presented the reform as a way to secure Go-Pass revenue by allowing passengers to pay electronically and obtain a QR code for airport inspections.
Under the planned system, electronic gates will allow travelers to scan their QR codes before accessing boarding areas. The mechanism is intended to ensure direct tracking of payments by the RVA.
Official documents do not provide detailed information about Mayeles SAS. However, public business registries indicate that a company with the same name, established in 2019 and registered in Créteil, France, has been listed as dissolved since July 8, 2025. That entity operated in the rental and leasing of personal and household goods. These details relate to the French-registered company and do not rule out the existence of other companies using the same name in other jurisdictions.
Authorities have not disclosed how many airports will be covered by the contract awarded to Mayeles SAS. The transport minister previously indicated that the digital Go-Pass system would first be deployed at the country’s international airports.
Timothée Manoke
South Africa’s Standard Bank Group is exploring new infrastructure investment opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A delegation from the financial institution met with the Congolese Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, John Banza Lunda, in Kinshasa on March 6, 2026, according to a ministry statement. The meeting follows an initial exchange held on February 24, 2026, in Cape Town on the sidelines of the African Markets Conference, an event organized by Standard Bank focused on African markets.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, discussions focused on financing mechanisms for structural projects, particularly in the transport, energy and economic infrastructure sectors, which are considered essential to support the country’s growth. Kayode Solola, head of global markets for African regions at Standard Bank, said the delegation’s mission to the DRC was aimed at examining the next steps for cooperation with Congolese authorities to support the national infrastructure development strategy.
In this context, the two parties discussed the possibility of establishing joint working groups, the ministry said. These teams would be responsible for identifying priority projects and assessing their feasibility ahead of any potential financing decisions.
The exchanges build on cooperation initiated in July 2025, when Prime Minister Judith Suminwa received a delegation from the banking group in Kinshasa. At the end of that meeting, Lungisa Fuzile, Chief Executive for Standard Bank’s Africa region, said the bank was interested in supporting the development of several infrastructure projects in the DRC. Discussions notably mentioned the Lobito Corridor, as well as projects in the road, energy and telecommunications sectors.
Standard Bank has operated in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1992. It provides services in the country through its branches in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, as well as through a network of local intermediaries.
For the Congolese government, interest from the South African banking group aligns with a strategy to mobilize greater private and international financing to support infrastructure investment. The sector is considered one of the main drivers of the country’s economic transformation.
Ronsard Luabeya
The city of Beni in North Kivu province has faced a fuel shortage since March 7, 2026, triggering a sharp rise in prices on the local market.
According to Radio Okapi, gasoline prices rose within hours from about 2,500 Congolese francs per litre to 8,000 francs among street fuel vendors, more than three times the usual price.
The broadcaster said the shortage is linked to tanker trucks stranded in Kenya that were meant to supply Beni as well as the nearby cities of Butembo and Kasindi. Service station managers said their trucks are blocked at a refuelling site in Kenya. The exact reason has not been specified.
Amid uncertainty over when deliveries will resume, several operators have temporarily suspended sales to conserve their fuel stocks. The shortage has already disrupted transport in the city. Traffic has declined sharply, motorcycle taxi fares have increased, and some drivers are passing higher fuel costs on to passengers.
The situation echoes a similar disruption in July 2025, when fuel supplies were interrupted after around sixty tanker trucks were blocked at the entrance to Beni. The blockade followed a dispute between fuel importers and the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) over tariffs applied to petroleum products.
At the time, gasoline prices on the black market rose to around 6,000 Congolese francs per litre, compared with roughly 3,400 francs under normal conditions. Transport costs in the city also increased significantly.
The latest disruption underscores the heavy dependence of cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on regional fuel supply chains, particularly routes through East Africa. Any disruption to these routes quickly affects fuel prices and the functioning of the local economy.
Boaz Kabeya
The construction of universities in Kisangani and Mbandaka could require a combined investment of about $105.6 million, according to two provisional award decisions signed by Higher and University Education Minister Marie-Thérèse Sombo and published on Feb. 16, 2026 on the portal of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP).
The Mbandaka contract was provisionally awarded to the Masiha Services SARL-CCE SARLU consortium for an estimated $54.7 million, while the Kisangani project was provisionally awarded to the ZS Africa Solutions SARL- SOAFRICO SARL consortium for $50.9 million.
Both decisions remain provisional. Congolese public procurement rules allow five business days for unsuccessful bidders to file appeals. If no challenge is lodged, or once appeals are reviewed, the awards can be confirmed and the contracts signed.
If the Kisangani contract is confirmed, ZS Africa Solutions would expand its presence in university infrastructure projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company has been involved in several consortium contracts since 2022.
In March that year, a consortium including Building Blocks SARL, ZS Africa Solutions SARL and Société Probuild SARL secured a contract worth about $22.3 million to build infrastructure at the University of Bunia. The same group also won a $50.6 million contract to build and rehabilitate facilities at the National Pedagogical University (UPN) and the National Institute of Building and Public Works (INBTP) in Kinshasa.
Logistical constraints
Several media investigations have linked the company to other university projects, including in Kananga and Mbuji-Mayi, raising questions about the concentration of multiple university infrastructure contracts among consortiums involving the same firm.
In October 2025, ZS Africa Solutions said construction in Bunia was about 90% complete, while citing delays partly linked to difficulties sourcing cement. Company officials said some cement used on the site came from Kenya, with road transport taking several weeks because of security conditions and poor road infrastructure in the region.
Logistical constraints could also affect the future Kisangani project. Tshopo Province has no local cement production and relies mainly on supplies from Kongo Central via Kinshasa or imports from Uganda.
In June 2025, the Congolese Press Agency reported the expected arrival of 120,000 bags of cement in Kisangani to ease rising prices, with part of the shipment transported by river along the Congo River. The new university projects could increase demand in the local cement market and create opportunities for producers operating in the DRC, particularly those based in Kongo Central, the country's main cement production hub.
Timothée Manoke