Kinshasa,August 12, 2026 (TOP243NEWS).- The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic are seeking to strengthen their cooperation in the energy sector, particularly regarding the transit of petroleum products destined for the Central African market. The commitment was reaffirmed Wednesday in Kinshasa during a meeting between the ministers responsible for energy and hydrocarbons in the two countries.
On an official mission to the DRC, Edwige Opportune POUNINGUIZA-NGUELEBE, Central Africa’s minister in charge of Energy Development and Water Resources, was received by Acacia Bandubola Mbongo, DRC Minister of State and Minister of Hydrocarbons.
Following a one-on-one meeting, discussions were expanded to include officials from companies and institutions involved in the petroleum and logistics chains of both countries, as well as members of the two ministerial cabinets.
A strategic partnership for a landlocked country
At the heart of the discussions were mechanisms for the transit of petroleum products to the Central African Republic, a landlocked country whose energy supplies rely significantly on routes through Congolese territory.
For Bangui, the smooth and predictable movement of these products is a major issue for national energy security. For Kinshasa, the cooperation forms part of a bilateral relationship expected to deepen on the basis of mutual interests.
“It is an honor and a great pleasure for me to welcome you today to Kinshasa on the occasion of this working visit, which once again demonstrates the vitality of relations between our two brotherly countries,” Acacia Bandubola Mbongo said.
The Congolese minister stressed that the meeting was part of the ongoing dialogue between the two sides over recent months.
“It is fully in line with the energy cooperation that our two countries maintain and that we intend to strengthen every day,” she added.
Bangui welcomes Kinshasa’s commitment
For her part, Edwige Opportune POUNINGUIZA-NGUELEBE praised the welcome extended to her delegation and the attention shown by Congolese authorities.
She particularly emphasized the strategic importance of the Congolese corridor for supplying the Central African Republic with petroleum products.
“The Central African Republic is a landlocked country, and most of our petroleum products pass through the Democratic Republic of Congo,” she explained.
According to the minister, consultations with Congolese authorities before transit operations begin make it possible to review previous operations and identify any
difficulties that need to be addressed.
“This is longstanding cooperation, cooperation that has been very well maintained,” she added, expressing satisfaction with the assurances received from the Congolese side.
A mechanism involving multiple stakeholders
The meeting also highlighted the role of public and private companies involved in the petroleum and logistics chain.
On the Congolese side, participants included members of the State Minister’s cabinet, the chairman of the board and the managing director of SEP Congo, as well as the managing director of Lerexcom Petroleum and the deputy managing director of SOCIR. Members of the Central African delegation also took part in the discussions.
The composition of the meeting reflects the two governments’ determination to give their energy cooperation an operational dimension by bringing together political authorities and stakeholders directly involved in the transportation, storage and logistics of petroleum products.
Towards more structured energy cooperation
Beyond the transit of hydrocarbons, the discussions between Kinshasa and Bangui highlight the growing importance of regional infrastructure and transport corridors in securing energy supplies in Central Africa.
For the Central African Republic, reliable supply routes remain essential to the stability of its domestic market. For the DRC, strengthening the partnership also provides an opportunity to consolidate its role as a transit country and regional logistics hub.
The Kinshasa meeting therefore forms part of efforts to maintain regular dialogue between the two capitals and facilitate upcoming transit operations for petroleum products destined for the Central African Republic.
At the end of the discussions, the Central African minister said she would return to Bangui satisfied with the commitments made by the Congolese side.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS