Muanda, September 29th, 2025 (CPA).- The people of the city of Muanda in Kongo Central, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been called on Monday to show national solidarity in order to block the enemy’s advance. During the Prime Minister’s meeting held in front of the territorial office.
‘Our country is under attack. Let us stand in solidarity with our brothers in the east who are suffering the ravages of war, and let us block the enemy’s path,’ has said Judith Suminwa, Prime Minister. Faced with questions about the pace of progress, the head of DRC government called for realism and unity. She called on the population of the coastal city to be patient. ‘Do not be fooled: development does not happen with a wave of a magic wand. It takes patience. Today, we are working under the leadership of President Félix Tshisekedi, and you can see for yourselves how Muanda is changing,’ she has insisted.
As part of the development of this part of the country, the Prime Minister mentioned the construction of the deep-water port of Banana, the foundations for which have already been laid. « I was in Dubai to meet with the head of DP World. I asked him why, since the Head of State laid the foundation stone, the construction of the deep-water port of Banana had not progressed. He reassured me that they would work to complete the work by the end of 2026. That is why I came today to see how they are progressing, » she has said. She added: ‘I also insisted that the workforce be local: the sons and daughters of Muanda must find work in this project.’
The port of Banana, the country’s first deep-water port, is designed to be a hub for international trade in DRC. By providing direct access to large-tonnage vessels currently forced to unload in foreign ports, it aims to open up the Congolese economy and drastically reduce the cost of imports and exports.
This strategic infrastructure will position DRC as a leading logistics player in Central Africa, providing a competitive maritime gateway for minerals and other national resources, while boosting trade in the sub-region.
Arriving in Muanda at around 11 a.m., the Congolese Head of Government was welcomed by the provincial authorities. The Prime Minister then immediately travelled to Banana, where this port infrastructure is currently being built by the Emirati firm DP World.
Once there, Judith Suminwa observed the progress of the work and listened to presentations by officials from the construction company and the Banana naval base, which is being relocated to free up the space needed for the project.
The visit continued with detailed explanations of the hydrological issues at the site, particularly with regard to the mouth of the Congo River. The Head of Government also inspected the anti-erosion works designed to protect the coastline from coastal erosion, an essential prerequisite for the sustainability of the future infrastructure.
Prime Minister Suminwa’s visit to Muanda marks an important step in the monitoring of major structural projects and in mobilising the population around the transformation work undertaken by President Félix Tshisekedi through the national executive.