The Lobito and Banana corridors, two major economic projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been criticized for their lack of transparency and poor governance. According to a report by the Centre de recherche en finances publiques et développement local (CREFDL), the projects have several loopholes that threaten their economic ambitions. The report, published on October 23, 2026, highlights the need for better planning, transparency, and citizen participation in the projects.
One of the major concerns is that the two corridors have not been explicitly integrated into the country's public investment programs for 2025-2027 and 2026-2028. This lack of integration has raised questions about the transparency of the projects' preparation, tendering, and contract management. The CREFDL also notes that there is a lack of coherence between the initiatives of the central government, provinces, and decentralized territorial entities, which compromises the readability of investments.
The CREFDL report also criticizes the lack of prior studies on the projects, which is a requirement for public-private partnerships (PPPs). Without thorough evaluations, the state is exposed to risks that may not be fully mastered, including environmental and social consequences. Furthermore, the report notes that local communities have not been sufficiently consulted on the projects, which are expected to transform their environment. In Kolwezi, 80% of those surveyed said they were unaware of whether their needs had been taken into account in the Lobito project.
The report also raises concerns about the risk of erosion of public revenues due to fiscal exemptions granted without prior evaluation of their costs and benefits. According to the Ministry of Budget, the country lost $2.8 billion in 2023 and $2.4 billion in 2024 due to fiscal exemptions. The CREFDL warns that the lack of studies on the impact of exemptions in the corridors' ecosystem poses a risk to the state's resources.
The mechanisms for distributing revenues from transit and cross-border trade are also unclear. The report notes that the modalities for sharing fiscal revenues related to the Lobito corridor are not clearly defined or ratified by Parliament. This lack of clarity has raised concerns among local communities, with 45% of those surveyed expressing fears about the authorities' preparedness on this issue.
The report also highlights the lack of complementary infrastructure, difficulties related to the business climate, and limited access to information. Provincial programs consulted by the CREFDL provide for investments, but their articulation with the corridors managed by the central government is insufficient. The report also notes a deficit of initiatives clearly oriented towards the development of local small and medium-sized enterprises, which are essential for job creation and the dissemination of economic benefits.
The CREFDL has called for urgent action to address these concerns, including evaluating the cost of benefits granted to investors, preserving public finances, and ensuring that local communities benefit from the projects. The organization has also emphasized the need for greater transparency and citizen participation in the projects.
Key points
- The Lobito and Banana corridors have been criticized for lack of transparency and poor governance.
- The projects have not been explicitly integrated into the country's public investment programs.
- The lack of prior studies and community consultation has raised concerns about the projects' impact.
