Dr Congo pushes ahead with sovereign satellite project as José Mpanda remains determined
“Musuminyina katu wabula”, a Luba proverb meaning “he who perseveres eventually gets what he wants,” perfectly describes the mindset of Me José Mpanda Kabangu. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications is determined to achieve what he could not during his first ministerial role in September 2019 at the helm of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation: equipping the Democratic Republic of Congo with a sovereign satellite.
In a decisive step toward this goal, José Mpanda Kabangu granted an audience last Friday, June 5, to a Chinese delegation from China Unicom and Genew Technologies. The discussions focused on building the satellite and deploying fiber optic infrastructure nationwide. This meeting followed the minister’s mission to China in April.
Alongside the Chinese representatives, experts from the PTNTIC General Secretariat, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), the Congolese Fiber Company (SOCOF), the National Satellite Telecommunications Network (RENATELSAT), the National Remote Sensing Centre (CNT), as well as senior advisors from the Presidency and Prime Minister’s office on PTNTIC matters, participated in the audience.
Minister José Mpanda explained that his trip to China was political, seeking solutions for the country, but detailed project discussions needed technical experts. That is why representatives from the two Chinese firms are now in Kinshasa until June 19 to exchange with Congolese specialists on two major projects: the sovereign satellite, for which a memorandum of understanding was signed in April, and the national fiber optic backbone, whose agreement was revised in 2025.
Discussions began on Monday, June 8, with three objectives:
1. Technical and financial structuring: validate the technical architecture of both projects, estimate costs, and finalize financing arrangements with the ministries of Planning and Finance.
2. Institutional consultation and alignment: the Chinese firms formally notify and present to stakeholders including RENATELSAT, SCPT, SOCOF, CNC, CNT, SG PTNTIC, ARPTC, the Presidency, and the Prime Minister’s office.
3. Preparation for due diligence in China and next steps: define scope and timeline, identify Congolese delegates and sites to visit, produce deliverables before departure, and outline post-due-diligence stages.
Minister José Mpanda expects four outcomes from these talks:
- Validated technical solutions;
- An agreed financing approach;
- Aligned stakeholders; and
- A planned due diligence mission.
The Congolese institutions involved in this project include the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Mines, and the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC). Technical entities are the PTNTIC General Secretariat, ARPTC, FDSU, SOCOF, SCPT, RENALSAT, and CNT.
