The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has deployed missionaries from the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) to Kasindi, a town in North Kivu province, to strengthen control of customs operations. The deployment, which began on September 24, 2026, aims to verify the conformity of customs operations and ensure that goods leaving warehouses have been properly declared to the customs administration. According to Mika Katembo, a protocol officer at the DGDA's provincial office in North Kivu, the missionaries will check if all goods leaving warehouses have been declared.
The deployment is a result of recent meetings between the DGDA and stakeholders in the customs process, including the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) and the Association of Congolese Customs Commissioners (ACCAD). The meetings aimed to improve customs operations and maximize revenue. The DGDA's provincial director in North Kivu, Kayembe Paul Ngindu, decided to strengthen control measures in Kasindi-Lubiriha, a border town with Uganda. The goal is to combat customs fraud and improve the monitoring of goods throughout the customs chain.
The missionaries have been assigned to five strategic sectors of the DGDA in Kasindi. These sectors include the Customs Brigade, where they will monitor the transportation of goods from their entry into the country to their arrival at warehouses. They will also be responsible for document handling, verifying the authenticity and validity of documents presented by transporters. Additionally, they will conduct physical checks to ensure that goods are present in warehouses, as declared.
The deployment of missionaries is part of a broader effort to improve customs operations and maximize revenue in the DRC. The DGDA aims to strengthen control measures and combat customs fraud. According to Profile Kalengya, president of the FEC in Kasindi, and Jean-Paul Paluku Kisokolo, president of the ACCAD in Kasindi, the deployment is a positive step towards improving customs operations and revenue mobilization.
The DGDA's provincial director in North Kivu held a two-hour meeting with cadres and agents of the DGDA in Kasindi to discuss the improvement of customs work, revenue maximization, and anti-fraud measures. The meeting aimed to enhance cooperation and coordination among stakeholders in the customs process. The deployment of missionaries is expected to contribute to the mobilization of resources due to the state.
The DRC government has been working to improve revenue mobilization and combat fraud. The deployment of customs missionaries to Kasindi is part of these efforts. The government has identified Kasindi as a key location for customs operations, given its strategic position on the border with Uganda.
The deployment of missionaries is expected to have a positive impact on revenue mobilization in the DRC. The DGDA aims to improve customs operations and combat fraud, which will contribute to the country's economic growth. The government has been working to improve the business environment and attract investment, and the deployment of customs missionaries is part of these efforts.
Key points
- The DRC has deployed customs missionaries to Kasindi to strengthen control of customs operations and maximize revenue.
- The deployment aims to combat customs fraud and improve the monitoring of goods throughout the customs chain.
- The move is part of a broader effort to improve revenue mobilization and economic growth in the DRC.
