Delays at Matadi Port Cripple Sino-Congolese Infrastructure Projects

The ambitious Sino-Congolese cooperation program, designed to transform the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s infrastructure landscape, faces a critical impasse at the Port of Matadi and other customs checkpoints. Despite robust financial commitments and technical preparations, the decongestion of construction materials and equipment remains stalled, directly threatening the timely completion of key projects.

During a recent inspection tour in Grand Bandundu, Minister of Infrastructure John Banza received an urgent update from Nico Nzau Nzau, Director-General of the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT). The report highlighted that asphalt shipments, essential for road surfacing across multiple sites, have been held up at customs for over six months. This delay contradicts the project’s exemption status under Law No. 14/005 of February 11, 2014, and the 2024 Fifth Amendment to the Collaboration Agreement, which were intended to streamline such processes.

Impact on Key Infrastructure Projects

The consequences of these blockades are far-reaching. Critical projects now at risk include:

• The South-East and South-West Ring Roads in Kinshasa, whose substructure construction has just begun
• The Manterne–Tshela–Singini road
• The Kananga–Kalamba Mbuji route
• The RN1 segment between Mbujimayi and Nguba
• The Idiofa Stadium
• The General Reference Hospital in Kikwit, where 17 new buildings and 11 modernized facilities are in progress, expanding bed capacity from 150 to 650

The ACGT has warned that without immediate intervention, there is a high risk of project slowdowns or even full work stoppages. The Coordination and Monitoring Agency (APCSC), responsible for customs clearance of infrastructure materials, is urged to expedite pending requests for indirect taxes and other fiscal clearances.

Cumulative Delays and Material Blockades

As of mid-2026, approximately 1,477 tons of asphalt, destined for Kinshasa’s ring roads, the Matadi–Tshela–Singini route, and the Kananga–Kalamba Mbuji road, remain stranded at the port. In Grand Katanga, another 1,650 tons of asphalt, earmarked for the rehabilitation of the RN1 (Mbujimayi–Nguba section), are similarly immobilized. Additionally, heavy machinery—including the concrete plant for the Idiofa Stadium—spare parts, and various construction materials are held up at border crossings, preventing their deployment to active sites.

With the dry season traditionally favoring construction progress, these delays are particularly damaging. Projects like the Idiofa Stadium and hospital expansions in Kikwit are now facing extended timelines, depriving communities of essential services and modern infrastructure.

Call for Urgent Action

The Minister emphasized that the blockade not only disrupts project timelines but undermines the entire Sino-Congolese cooperation initiative. The government is urging all stakeholders—including the APCSC, customs authorities, and project contractors—to resolve outstanding clearance issues promptly. Failure to do so risks derailing the program’s objectives and delaying the delivery of critical public assets to the Congolese people.