Congo’s ARSP Enforces Subcontracting Law to Empower SMEs

Kinshasa, October 2025 – At a decisive moment for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Miguel Kashal Katemb, Director General of the Autorité de Régulation de la Sous-traitance dans le Secteur Privé (ARSP), delivered a powerful address on the future of subcontracting in the DRC. His message went beyond statistics: it was a political statement about sovereignty, equity, and national dignity.

From Neglect to Priority

For years, subcontracting in Congo’s private sector was treated as a secondary issue, riddled with loopholes, opaque contracts, and foreign domination. Congolese SMEs were marginalized, often reduced to “front men” for powerful multinationals in mining and other strategic sectors.

But as Katemb reminded, under the leadership of President Félix Tshisekedi, subcontracting has been elevated to a strategic lever for economic transformation. “What was once considered accessory is today the backbone of a policy designed to create a true Congolese middle class,” Katemb declared.

Results and Challenges

After 32 months at the helm of ARSP, Katemb presented results:

• Over 15,000 subcontractors are registered and eligible under the law (compared to 3,000 in early 2023).

• Contracts worth more than $2.4 billion were allocated to Congolese SMEs in 2024, mostly in the mining sector.

• Stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent abuses like fake tenders, illegal expatriate dominance, and fronting practices.

He also announced that a new wave of compliance audits will soon be launched across sectors, with sanctions planned for companies that continue to resist the law.