Afrewatch Urges Oversight as $1B Sicomines Projects Face Scrutiny
The first phase of infrastructure development under the Sicomines agreement—an investment partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a Chinese business consortium—mobilized a total of USD 1.053 billion, of which USD 822.1 million was allocated to completed projects, according to a new report by the NGO Afrewatch.
Drawing on data from the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT), the report reveals that 42 projects were launched in this initial phase.
Of these, 36 have been completed, while six remain ongoing. However, only 20 projects have been definitively approved.
Seven are at the provisional acceptance stage, and 16 have not yet been formally accepted.
Originally signed in 2008, the Sicomines contract was amended on March 14, 2024. The revised agreement now brings the total budget of the DRC-China infrastructure-for-minerals deal to USD 7 billion, encompassing past investments, ongoing works, and mutually recognized costs.
The Congolese government has already borrowed USD 1.5 billion under the deal. The latest amendment caps annual investments at USD 324 million, with a projected allocation of USD 624 million for fiscal year 2024.
However, these figures remain dependent on global copper prices, which are currently projected at USD 8,000 per tonne.
Despite the scale of investment, significant gaps remain. The Ministry of Infrastructure estimates that the DRC requires USD 14.7 billion to fully modernize its infrastructure.
The current five-year development plan anticipates USD 8 billion in Chinese financing—covering 54.5% of this need.
But after accounting for disbursed funds and existing debt, the remaining value of the Sicomines contract is not expected to exceed USD 5 billion by 2041.
In light of these concerns, Afrewatch has issued a series of recommendations aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in managing the Sicomines program. These include:
A call to the Congolese Parliament to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all infrastructure projects financed under the agreement between 2008 and 2023 to assess their actual value.
A recommendation to the government to reform the current management framework of the Sicomines fund, ensuring alignment with existing laws on budgetary governance, public finance, and procurement.
A request for the Minister of Infrastructure to revoke the June 28, 2023 decree concerning project management costs.
Appeals to the Court of Auditors and the General Inspectorate of Finance to carry out a full audit of Phase 1 of the program, covering activities from 2008 to 2023.
Afrewatch’s findings underscore the need for stronger oversight, greater transparency, and improved governance to ensure the long-term success and value of the DRC-China infrastructure partnership.
