The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed, this Friday, March 14, 2025 in Kinshasa, two agreements aimed at modernizing the country's digital infrastructures and relaunching the economy of the city of Boma located at the western end of the country.

The two personalities signed two loan agreements between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the French Development Agency (AFD), aimed at supporting the country's digital transformation and the sustainable development of the city of Boma.

Co-financed by AFD and the World Bank to the tune of 500 million dollars, the project should contribute to strengthening connectivity at the national level and increasing the Internet penetration rate. Thanks to this initiative, an additional 30 million people will have access to the Internet at an affordable cost.

The second project concerns the development of the city of Boma, which is experiencing a major economic crisis due to the slowdown in port activities and the departure of several industrial groups. This situation has had a major impact on access to basic services as well as to leisure and cultural infrastructures

Faced with the challenges posed by the effects of climate change, this project aims in particular to:

1. Adapt the territory of Boma to climate change, in particular by fighting against soil erosion and by strengthening local infrastructures

2. Improving the attractiveness of the city and the living conditions of the inhabitants

3. Strengthen urban governance, by encouraging citizen participation and the involvement of local actors

The Congolese Minister of Finance welcomed this initiative by France and the commitment of the international community to support the DRC, particularly in a context marked by Rwandan aggression.