Kinshasa,July 15, 2026 (TOP243NEWS) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Aid Coordination Guylain Nyembo on Wednesday presented to both chambers of Parliament the framework and objectives of the Second General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-2), a strategic national initiative aimed at providing the Democratic Republic of the Congo with updated demographic data to strengthen development planning.
Addressing senators and members of the National Assembly, the Planning Minister recalled that the country’s last scientific population census was conducted in 1984, more than four decades ago. He noted that this long gap has deprived the country of essential demographic information needed to effectively guide public policies and investment decisions.
Guylain Nyembo explained that the RGPH-2 will improve the allocation of public resources, infrastructure planning, spatial development, and policymaking in key sectors including health, education, employment, and local development.
The Deputy Prime Minister also sought to dispel any confusion between the census and the electoral process. He stressed that the census is a purely scientific statistical operation designed to generate reliable demographic data to strengthen public governance and support the implementation of the National Strategic Development Plan (PNSD), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Providing an update on the project’s progress, Guylain Nyembo highlighted advances in census mapping, the mobilization of technical and financial partners, and the launch on July 15 of a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging broad public participation.
Through this presentation before the Senate and the National Assembly, the Government is seeking broad institutional support for the RGPH-2, which is regarded as a critical tool for evidence-based governance, more effective public policy planning, and inclusive development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS