KINSHASA, The Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed an agreement with the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development, known as AUDA-NEPAD, to establish a country office in Kinshasa.
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo presided over the signing ceremony on August 6 at the Cité de l’Union Africaine. The agreement was signed by Minister of External Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya on behalf of the Congolese government and AUDA-NEPAD Executive Secretary Dr Nardos Bekele-Thomas.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, government members and representatives of international financial institutions attended the ceremony, underlining the strategic importance of the new institutional partnership.
The agreement represents an important step in the Tshisekedi administration’s effort to place the DRC’s development ambitions more firmly within Africa’s continental investment and integration agenda.
A Direct Bridge Between Congo and the African Union
The planned office will serve as a permanent technical link between the DRC and the African Union’s development system. Its role will include helping identify national priorities, align major projects with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and strengthen efforts to mobilise technical and financial partners.
That mission closely reflects AUDA-NEPAD’s official mandate. The agency supports African Union member states with technical assistance, project coordination, institutional capacity and resource mobilisation for regional and continental development programmes.
For the DRC, having this expertise represented in Kinshasa could make coordination faster and more consistent. Instead of engaging only through periodic continental meetings, Congolese institutions will have a closer technical channel for advancing projects from national priorities toward regional programmes and potential financing discussions.
The office is also expected to help connect government ministries, public agencies, development institutions, private investors and African Union structures around projects with benefits extending beyond Congo’s borders.
Grand Inga, Lobito Corridor and Kinshasa–Brazzaville Link in Focus
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DRC Signs AUDA-NEPAD Country Office Agreement
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
4 min read
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KINSHASA, The Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed an agreement with the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development, known as AUDA-NEPAD, to establish a country office in Kinshasa.
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo presided over the signing ceremony on August 6 at the Cité de l’Union Africaine. The agreement was signed by Minister of External Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya on behalf of the Congolese government and AUDA-NEPAD Executive Secretary Dr Nardos Bekele-Thomas.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, government members and representatives of international financial institutions attended the ceremony, underlining the strategic importance of the new institutional partnership.
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The agreement represents an important step in the Tshisekedi administration’s effort to place the DRC’s development ambitions more firmly within Africa’s continental investment and integration agenda.
A Direct Bridge Between Congo and the African Union
The planned office will serve as a permanent technical link between the DRC and the African Union’s development system. Its role will include helping identify national priorities, align major projects with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and strengthen efforts to mobilise technical and financial partners.
That mission closely reflects AUDA-NEPAD’s official mandate. The agency supports African Union member states with technical assistance, project coordination, institutional capacity and resource mobilisation for regional and continental development programmes.
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For the DRC, having this expertise represented in Kinshasa could make coordination faster and more consistent. Instead of engaging only through periodic continental meetings, Congolese institutions will have a closer technical channel for advancing projects from national priorities toward regional programmes and potential financing discussions.
The office is also expected to help connect government ministries, public agencies, development institutions, private investors and African Union structures around projects with benefits extending beyond Congo’s borders.
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Grand Inga, Lobito Corridor and Kinshasa–Brazzaville Link in Focus
Three major integration projects were identified during the announcement: Grand Inga, the Lobito Corridor and the proposed Kinshasa–Brazzaville road-and-rail connection.
Project | Strategic importance | Role expected from the AUDA-NEPAD office |
Grand Inga | A transformative hydropower vision with the potential to support electricity access, industry and regional power trade | Project integration, technical coordination and mobilisation of development partners |
Lobito Corridor | A strategic transport and trade route connecting the DRC’s mineral and production zones with Angola’s Atlantic coast | Alignment with continental infrastructure priorities and support for cross-border coordination |
Kinshasa–Brazzaville road-and-rail link | A proposed connection between two of the world’s closest capital cities, with potential benefits for trade and regional mobility | Technical support, regional integration and engagement with prospective partners |
These projects illustrate the DRC’s growing importance to Africa’s energy, logistics and trade future. Grand Inga could become a major source of clean electricity. The Lobito Corridor can improve access to international markets while supporting agriculture, mining, industry and communities along its route. A modern Kinshasa–Brazzaville connection could strengthen commerce and mobility across the Congo River.
The country office will not replace the institutions responsible for executing these projects. Its value lies in helping Congo organise, present and connect its priorities to the wider African development framework.
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