France and DRC sign new cooperation agreements to deepen strategic partnership
Date: 2026-02-09
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
France
and the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken a significant step toward
strengthening their bilateral relations with the signing of two major
agreements aimed at advancing sustainable development and energy cooperation.
The
agreements were signed in Kinshasa during the official mission of Éléonore
Caroit, France’s Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships
and French Nationals Abroad. The first is a new France–DRC cooperation protocol
covering the period 2026–2030, which builds on the 2021 agreement that
facilitated the disbursement of more than €500 million to support development
initiatives in the country.
The
new protocol reaffirms the shared commitment of both governments to priority
sectors considered critical to the DRC’s long-term development. These include
environmental protection and forest conservation, energy, education, transport,
and agriculture, with a focus on promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
In
parallel, the visit provided the framework for the signing of a memorandum of
understanding related to the Grand Inga hydroelectric project. This agreement
marks a decisive step toward the realization of the Inga 3 project, a flagship
infrastructure initiative central to the DRC’s national development strategy
and regional integration ambitions.
The
signing coincides with the official entry into force of World Bank financing
for the Inga 3 programme, reinforcing the project’s viability and its alignment
with long-term sustainability objectives.
Together,
the agreements underscore the strength of the Franco-Congolese partnership,
rooted in mutual trust, aligned development priorities, and a shared ambition
to support sustainable development, energy transition, and institutional
capacity building in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
