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.

A Patriotic Duty in Times of War

The speech carried a patriotic undertone. Katemb expressed solidarity with Congolese in the east, victims of Rwanda-backed M23/AFC aggression, and linked economic control to national sovereignty. “The wealth of our soil must first benefit Congolese,” he stressed, reminding that while Rwanda fuels war to plunder Congo’s resources, Kinshasa is working to ensure transparency and fairness in its own markets.

Backing From Government Leadership

Katemb’s intervention also paid homage to Tshisekedi’s vision and to Prime Minister Judith Suminwa’s government. He underscored their commitment to local content policies that ensure Congolese entrepreneurs have priority in subcontracting markets.

The reforms, supported by the World Bank and international experts, include revising the subcontracting law and introducing a local content law to further anchor Congolese ownership of the economy.

Looking Ahead

With over $8 billion in subcontracting opportunities projected in the coming years, ARSP’s reforms could change the face of Congo’s private sector. But success depends on strict enforcement, political will, and the resilience of Congolese entrepreneurs.

As Katemb concluded: “Respecting the law is no longer an option. It is a duty to the Republic and to future generations.”