Tshisekedi Launches Congo’s Agricultural Revival in Menkao

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Introduction

For decades, the Democratic Republic of Congo was known more for its mineral riches than for the fertile soil that covers the nation. Despite having more than 80 million hectares of arable land, conflict, mismanagement, and an economy built around the “resource curse” turned the country into a net food importer. Villages once fed themselves with cassava, maize, rice, and beans; today, many rely on imported flour and second‑hand vegetables trucked over broken roads.

On 28 August 2025, a different image emerged. At the agricultural zone of Menkao, roughly 50 kilometres from central Kinshasa, President Félix Tshisekedi inaugurated the 2025–2026 agricultural season. Surrounded by ministers, planters, and farmers, he handed over hundreds of tractors and farming equipment destined for the 26 provinces, symbolising a government willing to invest in rural communities.

In his speech, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Muhindo Nzangi reminded the crowd that the government has allocated 10 % of the national budget to agriculture, meeting the African Union’s Maputo commitment to devote at least one‑tenth of public spending to the sector. The launch was more than a ceremony; it was a declaration that Congo’s soil will finally take “revenge” on the sub‑soil that has dominated its economy