DRC’s sovereign satellite project advances under José Mpanda’s leadership

A persistent proverb from the Luba community, « Musuminyina katu wabula », reminds us that perseverance ultimately leads to success. For José Mpanda Kabangu, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, this wisdom encapsulates his unwavering commitment to securing a sovereign satellite for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Since assuming office in September 2019, Minister Mpanda has prioritized this ambitious project—one that initially fell under his previous portfolio as Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation. His dedication reached a new milestone on June 5, 2026, when he hosted a high-level delegation from China Unicom and Genew Technologies in Kinshasa. The meeting focused on critical infrastructure development, including the construction of the sovereign satellite and the expansion of the national fiber optic backbone.

The delegation’s visit follows Minister Mpanda’s official mission to China in April 2026, where preliminary agreements were solidified. Key stakeholders from DRC’s public and private sectors joined the discussions, including representatives from the General Secretariat of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy (PTNTIC), the Regulatory Authority for Posts and Telecommunications (ARPTC), the Congolese Fiber Optic Company (SOCOF), the National Satellite Telecommunications Network (RENATELSAT), the National Center for Remote Sensing (CNT), as well as presidential and prime ministerial advisors specializing in PTNTIC matters.

Minister José Mpanda meeting with Chinese delegation

Minister Mpanda emphasized that his April mission to China was not merely diplomatic but strategically designed to lay the groundwork for technical discussions. The Chinese delegation, now in Kinshasa until June 19, 2026, will engage directly with Congolese experts to refine two transformative initiatives: the sovereign satellite project, which saw a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April, and the national fiber optic backbone, whose agreements were revised in 2025.

Three primary objectives are guiding these ongoing negotiations:

Technical and financial structuring: Finalizing the technical architecture, cost estimates, and securing financing modalities in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Finance;
Institutional alignment: Formal presentations to key entities, including RENATELSAT, the Congolese Fiber Optic Company (SCPT), SOCOF, the National Center for Remote Sensing (CNC), the General Secretariat of PTNTIC, ARPTC, and both the Presidency and Prime Minister’s offices;
Due diligence preparation: Establishing the scope, timeline, and delegates for future on-site visits in China, while identifying critical deliverables and follow-up steps post-due diligence.

Minister Mpanda has outlined four key outcomes he expects from these deliberations:

Validated technical solutions;
A finalized financing strategy;
Full alignment among all stakeholders;
A detailed plan for the due diligence mission.

The project involves a broad coalition of DRC institutions, including the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministries of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy; Planning; Finance; Infrastructure; Mines; and the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC). Technical partners include the General Secretariat of PTNTIC, ARPTC, the DRC Fiber Optic Fund (FDSU), SOCOF, SCPT, RENATELSAT, and the National Center for Remote Sensing (CNT).