DRC Unveils Major Youth Entrepreneurship Reform Led by Tshisekedi

The 26 November Briefing – Entrepreneuriat des Jeunes revealed something deeper than a government meeting: it marked the official birth of a new national doctrine, the Youth Republic (République des Jeunes), the core promise of Félix Tshisekedi’s second mandate.

For the first time in the DRC’s history, the Head of State himself personally chaired, supervised, and engaged in a three-day marathon of workshops with 475 young Congolese, experts, ministers, and entrepreneurs. This is unprecedented in Congolese governance. It signals a shift: youth are no longer a political slogan; they are the foundation of the new national economy.

A President Who Leads From the Front

Ministers Justin Kalumba and Patrick Muyaya made it clear:

Tshisekedi didn’t just “approve” the youth entrepreneurship roundtable; he led it, opened it, entered the workshops, questioned participants, guided the conclusions, and then closed it himself.

In a political culture where leaders are usually distant, this direct involvement is revolutionary. It shows that the President considers employment, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship as the No.1 priority of the quinquennium.

A Coherent National Model: The 3C → 1 Big C

Minister Kalumba outlined the backbone of this new Congolese model:

CAPACITATION → CREDIT → CONTRACTS (3C)

All integrated inside a larger “C”: a Competitive, Inclusive Business Ecosystem.

Minister of Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium Enterprises, Justin Kalumba, presented the government’s new model for youth economic development, structured around the “3C” approach:

• Capacitisation – Training, coaching, and entrepreneurial education, coordinated by ANADEC, which replaces the former OPEC.

• Credit – Access to financing and loan guarantees supported by FOGEC, soon to be recapitalized to meet national demand.

• Contracts – Integration of young entrepreneurs into national markets, reinforced by the Local Content strategy, subcontracting regulations, and the new Public Procurement Law, which reserves at least 40% of contracts for Congolese SMEs.

According to the Ministry, the objective is to transition Congo from a predominantly informal economy to a structured entrepreneurial ecosystem aligned with national development goals.

This model mirrors what helped China and the U.S. boost their SME ecosystem, except adapted to Congo’s realities.

The Most Ambitious Reform: A National Entrepreneurship Championship

The government is launching what may become the largest entrepreneurship competition in Africa:

• Every territory, every province, every circonscription will select champions entrepreneuriaux every 2–3 years.

• These “champions” will receive equipment, mentoring, and seed funds, not cash, to avoid diversion and ensure real production.

• The system is designed to match or exceed the size of Congo’s political system:

• If the country elects 1,200 politicians, it will now produce 1,200+ young economic champions.

  
  

Authorities say this is intended to ensure transparency, reduce the risk of diversion, and support long-term business growth.

A Clear Diagnosis: Congo Cannot Be the World’s Treasure Chest With High Youth Unemployment

With 65% of the population under 25 and a country considered the “cove of the world”, the government is acknowledging a contradiction:

It is unacceptable for Congo to be rich underground and poor above ground.

The solution is not speeches, it’s a system that:

• trains,

• finances,

• and inserts young people into the national economy.

Addressing Youth Unemployment Through Institutional Reform

Officials emphasized that Congo must address the paradox of being one of the world’s most resource-rich countries while experiencing high levels of youth unemployment.

To tackle this, the government unveiled reforms to:

• the Office national de l’emploi (ONEM), soon to be renamed Office national de l’emploi et de l’égalité des chances,

• the Labour & Employment Inspectorate,

• and the national school curriculum, which will include new entrepreneurship modules.

  
  

The ONEM reform prioritizes:

• anonymous CVs,

• standardized recruitment processes,

• and a national database designed to reduce nepotism and ensure equal access to jobs.

Men and Women, Urban and Rural: A Nationwide Inclusion Strategy

Minister Kalumba stressed the importance of inclusion across gender, geography, and ability:

• women entrepreneurs,

• young people with disabilities,

• rural populations,

• And diaspora youth will all be integrated into the national entrepreneurship program.

This aligns with the President’s intent to make youth policy fully national, not restricted to major cities.

Government Maintains Focus Despite Regional Tensions

Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya addressed concerns about regional insecurity and Rwanda-backed destabilization in eastern DRC. He reaffirmed that, despite ongoing conflict, the majority of the national territory remains stable, allowing the country to maintain its focus on job creation and economic expansion.

Muyaya emphasized that youth entrepreneurship is part of the country’s long-term sovereignty strategy, ensuring that economic growth is driven by Congolese citizens rather than external actors.

A Central Priority of the Second Mandate

The conclusion of the three-day roundtable formalized the government’s new direction:

• youth employment,

• entrepreneurship,

• and economic inclusion

Officials stated that the Cabinet will now integrate the roundtable’s recommendations into national planning, with periodic reporting to ensure accountability and measurable progress.