Support multiplied by five

According to the institution, this increase would require nearly $500 billion in additional investment, notably to meet the needs of the energy transition and the digital economy.

The World Bank intends to raise its support for metals and minerals to $19 billion over fiscal years 2026 to 2030, compared with $3.6 billion mobilised between 2021 and 2025. This amount combines its own financing and the private capital it plans to mobilise. It is therefore neither an annual envelope nor funds already allocated to each country.

On 16 October in Bangkok, eight countries launched partnerships with the institution. Four are African: Egypt, Malawi, Mauritania and Zambia. Argentina, Bolivia, India and Kazakhstan complete this first list.

From extraction to value addition

The agreements provide for mining framework reforms, improved geological data, the development of energy and transport infrastructure, and workforce training. They aim to strengthen local suppliers and processing.

The ambition is to move beyond exporting raw ores and retain more value added in producing economies. In Zambia, the partnership notably focuses on copper production, infrastructure and local processing activities.

The DRC faces the industrial challenge

A major player in copper and cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo is affected by this new orientation of mining finance. It is not among the first eight signatory countries. The World Bank has nevertheless identified twenty countries as potential partners, beyond this first wave.

For Kinshasa, the stakes go beyond access to financing: it is a matter of bringing together the conditions for mining industrialisation, notably reliable energy, efficient transport corridors, technical skills and transparent governance. Without these levers, the surge in global demand risks benefiting mainly value chains established abroad.

Local processing and job creation will determine the benefits of this dynamic.

Héritier Maila

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A misuse with health consequences

Marketed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the insecticide Lava is gaining ground in households, notably in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi. Originally designed to control pests in the agricultural sector, the product is now used by some individuals to fight mosquitoes, cockroaches and other household insects.

This practice, however, exposes people to health risks. A study published in the scientific journal Toxicology Communications reports 22 cases of suspected poisoning after indoor use of products containing dichlorvos, notably Lava and Sniper. The cases were recorded between 7 December 2025 and 25 February 2026 in the three cities mentioned above.

Of the 22 people affected, 14 were hospitalised. The reported symptoms mainly include headaches, breathing difficulties, dizziness and nausea. One patient admitted in Kinshasa even fell into a coma before recovering.

Dichlorvos at the heart of the concerns

The main concern is dichlorvos, an organophosphate substance found in Lava’s composition. According to the researchers, this product is classified among the highly hazardous pesticides by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The study stresses that the poisonings occurred notably after spraying in closed rooms, sometimes at night, without protective equipment and in the presence of other occupants of the home. The use of improvised containers to spray the product is also a source of concern.

The authors point out, however, that the absence of biological measurements of cholinesterase activity does not allow all cases of poisoning to be formally confirmed.

A challenge for Congolese regulation

Beyond the individual risks, this situation raises the question of the marketing, labelling and control of plant protection products in the DRC. Intended for agricultural or professional use, some insecticides end up in household consumer channels without users necessarily having the necessary information on how dangerous they are.

The researchers note that a ban on several products containing dichlorvos was decided in the DRC on 26 August 2026. The effective enforcement of this measure and the monitoring of distribution channels are now important issues.

For a country facing health and environmental challenges, pesticide control is therefore not only a matter of agricultural policy. It also concerns public health, consumer protection and household safety. Raising public awareness and strengthening the monitoring of poisonings appear essential to prevent new cases.

Héritier Maila / RFI

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The Congolese franc at the centre of trade

This measure aims to reorganise payment practices on the domestic market, where the US dollar plays a significant role in many transactions. By reserving cash settlements for the Congolese franc, the BCC intends to consolidate the role of the national currency and encourage its use in everyday trade.

For economic operators, this change will mean adapting invoicing, cash collection and treasury management habits. Shops, distribution companies and service providers that regularly receive payments in dollars in banknote form will need to make arrangements before the measure takes effect. Access to Congolese francs and to banking services will be decisive for its implementation.

Foreign currencies remain permitted

The announcement does not mean that holding foreign currency becomes illegal in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Individuals and companies will still be able to hold dollars or other foreign currencies. The restriction concerns commercial cash payments, not the possession of foreign currency.

Settlements in foreign currencies will remain possible when they go through banks or authorised electronic means. This distinction is essential to avoid confusing the regulation of cash payments with a general ban on the dollar.

An implementation challenge for businesses

The success of this approach will depend on the clarity of the practical provisions, on raising awareness among traders and on the effectiveness of payment infrastructure. In an economy where cash retains an important place, businesses will need accessible solutions to continue operating without disrupting trade.

The 9 April 2027 deadline gives those concerned time to adapt their systems and practices. The challenge will be to increase the use of the Congolese franc in domestic transactions, while maintaining reliable mechanisms for foreign-currency payments through formal channels.

Héritier Maila

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The Collective Bargaining Agreement at the Center of Expectations

Kamoa Copper workers want the negotiations initiated with management to lead to the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement. According to them, this document must provide a clear framework for professional relations, strengthen social protections and respond to the realities of work in the mining industry.

The authors of the memorandum insist on their desire to prioritize dialogue with the employer in order to reach a sustainable compromise. They believe that an appropriate collective bargaining agreement would help improve working conditions while promoting a stable social climate.

Social Demands Considered Priorities

Among the main demands are the granting of a flat-rate bonus of 1,000 US dollars to each employee, the automatic payment of acting allowances for workers temporarily performing higher-level duties, as well as an increase in the housing allowance to 30% of net salary.

The memorandum also calls for better coverage of workers’ children’s school fees, considered an important component of the company’s social policy. Staff representatives believe that these measures would help improve the well-being of employees and their families.

A Challenge for the Stability of Operations

The workers recall that their initiative comes in a context marked by the recent death of a colleague at the Kakula site, an event which, according to them, highlights the need to strengthen employee protection mechanisms.

In a sector that is strategic to the Congolese economy, the quality of social dialogue remains a determining factor in ensuring business continuity. For Kamoa Copper, concluding negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement could help strengthen trust between management and workers, while preserving the competitiveness of one of the world’s largest copper production complexes.

Héritier Maila

Source: Magazine Le Temps

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A Partnership Serving Economic Transformation

Through this future Partnership Framework, the World Bank intends to support the priorities of the Congolese government by backing structural reforms capable of stimulating more inclusive growth. The objective is to reduce the economy’s dependence on extractive industries by developing other promising sectors, particularly energy, infrastructure, agriculture and the private sector.

This ten-year program is part of a long-term vision aimed at strengthening the DRC’s economic resilience and improving living conditions through transformative investments.

Access to Electricity as a Priority

One of the main components of this partnership concerns the energy sector. The World Bank will support the DRC in implementing its energy compact, with the ambition of increasing access to electricity to 60% of the population.

Improved electricity supply is an essential lever for supporting industrialization, strengthening business competitiveness and attracting more investment, particularly in the mining and manufacturing sectors.

Job-Creating Investments

Beyond infrastructure financing, the expected investments should generate thousands of quality jobs in public works, energy, services and productive activities. By improving the business climate and basic infrastructure, the government hopes to encourage the emergence of a more dynamic and value-creating private sector.

Discussions between the Congolese authorities and the World Bank will continue in September in order to finalize the outlines of this Partnership Framework. The document will then be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Bretton Woods institution in November 2026. Its approval would pave the way for one of the largest economic development support programs for the DRC in recent years.

MB – Zoom Eco

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A Reform to Better Manage a Strategic Resource

The announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and the New Climate Economy, Marie Nyange Ndambo, during a press briefing co-hosted with the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. This future institution will be tasked with ensuring the protection, management and development of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s water resources.

With more than 50% of Africa’s freshwater reserves, the DRC possesses exceptional natural wealth. For the authorities, this abundance constitutes a strategic advantage that requires appropriate governance in order to preserve aquatic ecosystems in the face of the effects of climate change and pressures on river basins.

Making “Blue Gold” a Driver of Growth

Beyond preserving the resource, the future Congolese Water Office will also be expected to promote responsible economic use. The objective is to transform this natural wealth into a development factor capable of generating revenue for the State while ensuring sustainable management.

This vision reflects the government’s desire to further integrate natural resources into its economic diversification strategy. Water, which is essential to agriculture, industry, energy production and domestic uses, is now considered an economic asset whose value should be better harnessed.

Economic Potential Still Underexploited

The Congo Basin is among the world’s largest freshwater reservoirs. Developing this potential represents a major opportunity to attract investment in water infrastructure, strengthen water security and support the transition toward a more resilient economy.

The creation of the Congolese Water Office is therefore part of a broader effort to reconcile environmental protection with economic development. By strengthening the governance of this strategic resource, the DRC intends to transform its immense water potential into a sustainable asset serving its growth and development.

MB – ACP

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