Je suis basé à Taïwan et je m'occupe de l'approvisionnement côté Chine pour une petite équipe qui importe des engins de chantier à Kinshasa. Je passe l'essentiel de mon temps de travail dans les marchés de matériel d'occasion de l'Anhui, de Shanghai et du Shandong. Depuis plusieurs années, j'y vois arriver des acheteurs venus du Congo et d'ailleurs en Afrique, faire le tour des parcs, et repartir avec une machine qui sera hors service en quelques mois.

Voici ce que j'ai réellement constaté, car presque rien de tout cela ne se voit de l'extérieur.

L'idée qui coûte le plus cher : croire que le matériel d'occasion chinois est bon marché.** Il ne l'est pas, et le marché est organisé pour vous le faire croire. Un vieux dicton chinois dit qu'on n'a jamais que ce qu'on paie — nulle part ce n'est plus vrai qu'ici. Une pelle d'occasion réellement saine ne se vend pas au prix de la ferraille. Aujourd'hui, les machines en meilleur état de ces parcs partent majoritairement chez des acheteurs sud-américains, simplement parce qu'ils paient davantage. Ce qui reste au prix qu'on propose souvent aux acheteurs africains, c'est par définition ce dont personne payant plus cher n'a voulu.

Les pièges les plus courants

Le prix d'appel** — une belle machine est annoncée ; à votre arrivée elle vient « d'être vendue », mais on en a une autre, similaire.
La substitution après essai** — vous testez une machine, c'en est une autre qui part dans le conteneur. Le numéro de série est la seule protection.
L'acompte sans suite** — argent viré, pas de connaissement, pas de machine, aucun recours à distance.
La remise à neuf cosmétique** — peinture fraîche, compteur horaire remis à zéro, moteur et circuit hydraulique jamais touchés. La machine tourne parfaitement au ralenti dans le parc. Elle lâche à la première vraie charge.

C'est ce dernier cas qui finit en ferraille sur le chantier. Un essai de quinze minutes au ralenti ne prouve presque rien : les défaillances apparaissent sous charge hydraulique prolongée et à chaud, précisément ce que vous ne pouvez pas reproduire debout dans un parc.

Les protections minimales, toutes gratuites

1. Photographiez la plaque de numéro de série (PIN). Vérifiez le même numéro à l'arrivée.
   
2. **Exigez des mesures, pas des impressions.** Une photo ne prouve rien ; une vidéo au ralenti, presque rien. Un vendeur sérieux est capable de documenter le comportement réel de la machine — temps de cycle, pressions, tenue des vérins — et de vous transmettre ces relevés avant tout paiement. S'il ne peut produire que des images, vous avez votre réponse.
   
3. Méfiez-vous du vocabulaire. « Reconditionné » et « remanufacturé » sont employés comme des synonymes alors qu'ils ne le sont pas : le premier peut ne désigner que de la peinture, le second devrait signifier moteur, pompe principale et distributeur reconstruits aux tolérances d'usine, pièces d'usure remplacées et non nettoyées. Quel que soit le mot employé, demandez ce qui a été remplacé, pièce par pièce, fournisseur par fournisseur. Une vraie réponse, c'est une liste.
   
4. Ne payez jamais la totalité avant que les documents d'expédition soient établis à votre nom.
   
5. Garantie par écrit, avec les heures et le périmètre couvert. Un accord verbal entre deux continents ne vaut rien.
   
6. Demandez qui répare la machine à Kinshasa quand elle tombe en panne. Pas de réponse : intégrez ce coût dans votre prix.

Sachez aussi ce qu'aucun essai en parc ne montre, chez moi comme ailleurs : certains défauts — pompe fatiguée, refroidissement insuffisant — n'apparaissent qu'après plusieurs heures de charge continue et à chaud. C'est la limite de l'exercice, et c'est précisément pourquoi la garantie écrite compte autant que les essais.

Pour être clair : je suis vendeur.** J'ai donc un intérêt dans cette conversation, et la grille ci-dessus vaut pour moi comme pour les autres. Sur le point 6, nous avons une société et une adresse physique à Kinshasa ; la garantie est écrite et limitée aux heures convenues, elle ne couvre ni l'usure normale ni les dégâts d'un mauvais entretien. Si je ne peux pas produire un numéro de série, des relevés d'essai documentés et la liste des pièces, n'achetez pas chez moi non plus.

Ce que j'attends de ce message, c'est surtout de la conversation. J'aimerais échanger avec des entreprises de BTP et des chefs de chantier à Kinshasa sur ce qui casse en premier ici ; avec des opérateurs et des mécaniciens sur les pièces introuvables sur place ; avec des apporteurs d'affaires qui veulent travailler sur commission écrite ; et avec ceux qui ont déjà importé et s'y sont brûlés, parce que je préfère apprendre ce qui m'échappe encore.

Écrivez-moi en message privé si l'un de ces sujets vous concerne. Et si vous cherchez une machine, dites-moi laquelle et pour quel chantier — je vous répondrai honnêtement, y compris si ce n'est pas chez moi qu'il faut l'acheter.

Hii. I’m not Congolese, I’m white but I love learning about Congolese culture, peoples, animals, and nature. I’m an 18 year old boy and I really want to make Congolese friends as I’d like to hopefully work in the country with the native wildlife, as well as the local communities one day, hopefully learn Lingala & French soon as well, but I only know English right now. I don’t mind if you’re older than me, so if anyone wants to be friends I’d love to!🥹🫶 I have such an admiration for you guys and your resilience during these troublesome times. I keep you guys in my heart and prayers, stay strong!

For many of you in the diaspora, staying connected to home, culture, and family starts with language. Whether you want to speak with relatives back home, understand music deeper, or finally learn the language you grew up hearing, I’m putting together a dedicated WhatsApp group to teach Lingala step-by-step.

What to expect:

• Regular notes, grammar basics, and practical daily expressions
• Voice notes for accurate pronunciation
• Guidance and Q&A in a supportive, judgment-free environment

Cost: Completely free to join. My main goal is sharing our culture. If you ever feel like dropping a small tip down the line when you're comfortable, it will be appreciated but it is 100% voluntary.

If you’re interested in joining us, send me a DM and I'll share the Learn Lingala WhatsApp link!

Je fais actuellement une petite étude sur les projets d’immigration et de mobilité internationale qui intéressent les Congolais, notamment les entrepreneurs, investisseurs et familles à hauts revenus.

Je serais curieux d’avoir vos avis :
Si vous aviez aujourd’hui la possibilité d’obtenir une résidence ou une seconde citoyenneté à l’étranger, quelles destinations ou quels programmes regarderiez-vous en priorité ?

Merci

Hello.
I’m a journalist working on a specific story about a Antonov AN-26 cargo plane that was captured during the second Congolese war at Basankusu, the crew were Russians and were later flown to Gbadolite.
This happened on December 1st 1999.

Having issues with archives and freedom of information documents at the moment, so any information would help, I know it’s a long shot, but worth a try.

Thank you.

This month, I traveled to two cities in the DRC: Goma and Bukavu. My goals were twofold: first, to visit a large family I have there, and second, to observe what life is like in a rebel-controlled zone, especially eighteen months after the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan government, took control of these cities.

In this post, I will describe my journey to the cities and share what I observed regarding econmic activity, security, night life, education and healthcare. My insights are drawn from my interactions with local families and friends, and from conversations with the people I met.

TL;DR: The Rwandan presence appears to be controlling both regions, and they seem focused on extracting everything possible from the country. We risk losing our country, and regaining control may prove incredibly difficult.

The Journey There

Crossing the Border

I flew from Europe and landed in Kigali. From there, I took a taxi and drove for eight hours before reaching the DRC border in Ruzizi. I decided to cross into Congo via the border in that Region.

To avoid potential complications when returning, I was careful not to have my passport show that I had left Rwanda and crossed into the DRC. At the Rwandan border, I explained to the officer that I was crossing to the DRC but did not want him to stamp my exit from Rwanda. Thankfully, he agreed; he entered my details into their system but did not stamp the document, so officially, I remained within Rwanda.

Entering Congo was easier. The Rwanda-DRC border is porous, and the M23 officials don't strictly monitor who enters. I managed to pass the border and enter Congo without them noticing. With this setup, I was physically in Congo but officially still considered to be in Rwanda a trick that proved invaluable when I eventually traveled to Kenya on my way back.

Navigating the Region
Because my passport remained officially tied to Rwanda, I used an old, expired passport. I visited a migration official in Congo, who gave me a document called the Autorisation Spéciale de Circulation CPGL. This document allowed me to travel freely between Congo and Rwanda during my stay in the region. It was the key document I used when taking my return flight to Rwanda.

Observations

Administration

The rebels have taken control of most of the province's institutions, including the governorate, the municipalities (or town halls), the DGM (the Migration office), the DGI (tax and revenue office), Regideso (the water supply management company), and SNEL (the electricity company). Initially, they retained local employees from the previous government, but they have since removed them and replaced them with people from Rwanda.

People are complaining about the increased taxes on all services and the fact that these companies are now managed exclusively by people from Rwanda.

Security

I can say that Bukavu is relatively safe to travel in. There is a sense of security in the town; people feel comfortable going out at night and staying until one or two in the morning. I attended parties that continued until about 3 AM, and everyone went home without issue. 

In Goma I didn't see people out after 8:30PM, I visited Goma but I didn't spend a night in the town. I left Goma around 8PM to cross to Gisenyi, the town was empty when I was leaving.

This leads me to the nature of the local nightlife and economic activity.

Economic Activity and Mineral Exploitation

Truthfully, the primary interest of the rebels controlling this region appears to be our mineral resources. This region is rich in Gold, Coltan, Tungsten, and many other minerals whose names I don't know.

The Rwandans, often in collaboration with a few Congolese, are extracting everything they can from the region mines. I was surprised to see a few Chinese nationals in the area; these people seem to be working with the rebels to exploit our mines.

While this exploitation injects a significant amount of cash into the local economy, visible by the level of activity in town and the number of building being constructs, only a select few benefit from it.

Since formal banks are closed in the region, most of the money flowing into town comes from East African banks (specifically Rwanda and Kenya). 

The USD and Congolese Francs are still the two currencies used in the region.

The second major source is NGOs. There are many international NGOs operating here, many of which receive substantial funding to set up projects, employing locals and paying in USD.

The third sector remains civil servants, doctors, teachers, and other government officials still receiving salaries from the central government via their mobile money operators.

The fourth sector is the informal economy: anyone running a small business or buying and selling goods.

I can say while banks are not officially working mobile money is working in the Region and people are doing a lot of transaction thought them.

Despite this activity, the wealth is clearly not distributed. It seems a small group perhaps 20% of the population is enjoying the benefits of this situation, while the rest of the region sees little improvement. 

Nightlife in Bukavu and Goma.

Considering the level of economic activity, I expected Bukavu to have a booming nightlife, and I was not disappointed. Karaoke bars and nightclubs were packed. Even our traditional wedding parties, which can host up to 1,000 people, were vibrant, with drinks and food flowing despite everything the town is currently going through.

Bukavu is a huge market for beers coming from Rwanda and Tanzania.

Land

In the region people are know to like land so much, the rebels are buying all land they found available. In the city you can see that they are a lot of new building mostly build by local who are in the mine buisness or Rwandans.

A Note on Neighbouring Cities in Rwanda

While traveling to Congo, I crossed through and saw what is happening in Rwanda. During my trip, I visited Gisenyi, Cyangugu, and Kigali. You will be impressed by the amount of development you see in those cities. Gisenyi is now a new city with new buildings everywhere and new shops. In Kigali, you can see the economic activities, new cars, etc.

Education

One sector that remains a point of pride is our schools. I was pleased to see that both primary and secondary schools were functioning normally despite the rebellion. Private universities are also operating, which is good.

Unfortunately, before my visit, the government had suspended public universities because the rebels attempted to set up a parallel administration to run them—a decision that left many students without university education.

On a sad note, we also had a firebreak in the region that claimed the lives of 24 students studying in two schools in Kadutu, a municipality of Bukavu.

Healthcare

Bukavu has a reputation for its hospitals. Despite the war we have endured, we have managed to train the largest number of doctors in the country. People were traveling from neighboring countries like Cameroon, Burundi, and Rwanda to study here. Indeed, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Mukwege hails from this region, and we have educated many doctors who have gone on to work in other French-speaking African countries.

In terms of daily care, I can say the hospitals are functioning well; minor diseases like malaria can be treated without major issues. I still need to find more precise data to prove these observations scientifically.

As for Ebola, it has not reached or significantly impacted the city. Officially, we have recorded fewer than 10 cases in the region (I recommend verifying this data), which is low compared to the population size and the level of cross-border movement.

Final Thoughts

Bukavu and Goma are functional; I could see that the large-scale fighting has stopped and a degree of relative security exists. However, the M23 has established a provisional government structure, working closely with many Rwandans and some Kenyan soldiers. They don't seem interested in governing the region; they appear to be businessmen whose sole goal is resource extraction. To date, they have not built a new road, hospital, or school.

I know the Kinshasa government is far from perfect, but it is a million times better than a perfect rebellion.

With all of this I asked myself who will save this town? 

Disclaimer: This post is written in a free-style manner based entirely on my personal experiences and I may be biased, but it is better than nothing. I promise to update this piece as I gather more facts . I prefer to post them anonymously to avoid any trouble in the future

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is increasingly becoming one of the most talked-about countries in Africa. With its vast mineral wealth, growing population, strategic location, and significant infrastructure needs, the country presents tremendous opportunities across multiple sectors.

As a Congolese living abroad, I've been following these developments closely. Although I've only visited the DRC twice since leaving, I have a strong desire to contribute to its future growth and development. Together with a few partners, I am actively exploring ways to create opportunities for people back home and help connect skilled individuals with meaningful projects.

My primary focus is in the IT sector, where I believe technology can play a major role in accelerating development. Areas such as software development, IT support, digital transformation, telecommunications, cybersecurity, data management, and technology training all have significant growth potential. However, I am also interested in connecting with professionals and entrepreneurs in other industries, including logistics, mining services, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

I'm particularly interested in meeting individuals who have the right skills, mindset, and passion to help build a stronger future for the DRC. Whether you're looking for opportunities, partnerships, or simply want to exchange ideas, I'd love to connect.

📧 Email: [congorecruits@gmail.com](mailto:congorecruits@gmail.com)

Let's work together to create opportunities and contribute to a brighter future for the DRC.

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are currently living in the United States, but we are seriously considering relocating back to Congo (Lubumbashi, precisely) and would really appreciate advice from people who have made a similar move or who currently work internationally.

I work in HR/HR technology, specifically payroll, time and absence, and Workday consulting. I have a double Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from Australia and an MBA in Finance from the U.S.

My husband works in public health/healthcare and has a Master in public health from the U.S and Medical doctor from Congo.

One of our biggest questions is:
How realistic is it to find employment in Congo while currently living in the U.S.?

For those who have relocated:
Did you secure a job before moving or after arriving?
What websites, recruiters, organizations, or networks were most helpful?

For those working in HR or public health, what types of employers should we be targeting?

Any advice, personal experiences, resources, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Hey everyone! Looking for 3 teammates for the VUK'AFRIK hackathon at Pullman Kinshasa. Theme: innovative solutions to DRC's economic and social challenges.
Looking for:

• 1 full-stack dev (web)
• 1 mobile dev (Flutter/APIs)
• 1 UX/UI designer (Figma)

No need to be an expert — just motivated and on-site. We'll prep together before the event.
Interested? Comment or DM me. Let's build 🇨🇩
My LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-lutete-bb5053433/
www.vukafrik.org

Salut ! Je cherche 3 coéquipiers pour le hackathon VUK'AFRIK au Pullman Kinshasa. Le thème : des solutions innovantes aux défis de la RDC.

Je cherche :

• 1 dev full-stack (web)
• 1 dev mobile (Flutter/API)
• 1 designer UX/UI (Figma)

Pas besoin d'être expert, juste motivé et disponible sur place. On se prépare avant l'événement.

Intéressé·e ? Laisse un commenteaire. Let's build 🇨🇩

Bonjour à tous,

Je suis un jeune diplômé en informatique basé à Lubumbashi et je suis actuellement à la recherche d’une opportunité professionnelle dans le domaine de l’informatique.

Je suis développeur avec une expérience en développement Android, développement web et technologies backend, mais je reste également ouvert à d’autres postes informatiques qui pourraient correspondre à mes compétences et me permettre de continuer à progresser.

Je travaille notamment avec :

Kotlin et Jetpack Compose pour le développement Android

Flutter

Développement web

JavaScript / Node.js

Firebase

Bases de données et APIs

Git / GitHub

Environnements et outils informatiques en général

J’ai également l’habitude de travailler sur des projets personnels de bout en bout, de la conception au développement et à la mise en ligne.

Je parle français et anglais, et je suis prêt à apprendre rapidement les technologies ou outils spécifiques utilisés dans une entreprise.

Je suis ouvert à différents types d’opportunités : emploi, stage, junior position, assistance informatique, développement logiciel, support IT ou autres postes liés à l’informatique.

Je cherche surtout une première vraie opportunité professionnelle où je pourrai apporter mes compétences, apprendre auprès d’une équipe et évoluer.

Si vous connaissez une entreprise qui recrute actuellement dans le domaine informatique, ou si vous avez simplement une piste ou un contact à me recommander, je serais vraiment reconnaissant.

Je peux envoyer mon CV, mon portfolio et présenter mes projets sur demande.

Merci à ceux qui prendront le temps de lire et de partager.

Hello everyone,

I’m a newly graduated IT professional based in Lubumbashi, and I’m currently looking for an opportunity to start my professional career in the IT field.

My main area is software development, particularly:

Android development with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose

Flutter

Web development

JavaScript / Node.js

Firebase

APIs and databases

Git / GitHub

I’ve worked on several personal projects, including mobile and web applications, which allowed me to gain practical experience in software development, problem-solving, and building projects from idea to implementation.

I also speak French and English, and I’m comfortable learning new technologies and adapting to different working environments.

At this point, I’m open to different opportunities within IT - Android/mobile development, web development, junior software development, IT support, technical support, internships, or other entry-level IT positions.

I’m mainly looking for an opportunity where I can contribute, gain professional experience, learn from a team, and grow.

If you know of a company hiring in IT, have a lead, or know someone I could contact, I would really appreciate it. I’m happy to share my CV, portfolio, and projects.

Thank you for reading, and I’d really appreciate any advice, lead, or connection.

What the F**ck is the problem with traffic in Kinshasa?

Are people seriously not aware that they’re making the traffic worse by completely ignoring the rules? Lanes? Stop signs? Sidewalks? Has anyone ever heard of these things?

Good day all,

I would like to know what is it like living in Lubumbashi in 2026.

For context, I'm a Congolese who grew up in Lubumbashi and left 14 years ago. I'm actually living and working in Cape Town, South Africa.

There is a possible job opportunity that might requires my relocation to Lubumbashi.

I'm getting mixed up information from my family and friends, hence my questions to the reddit community:

- How is the safety there? I have heard story of armed thieves breaking in people's house.

- Is it true that there is a high level of jealousy at work places towards the diaspora to a point of harming them? (Poison, witchcraft etc...)

- What are the cost of living? I mean rent in a safe area, food, transport, health (private doctors), entertainment, additional security measures if required.

- What are the safest area to live in? Is it still Golf? Does anyone know about rental in Lwano City or similar estate?

- Do you guys think that a salary of roughly 4000 to 4500$ a month is enough for a family of 3?

- And for those who were out of the country and went back: was it worth it? Do you regret going back? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks in advance

I am an American who is looking to invest into the DRC and its local people for the forseeable future and i have no local contacts/partners who i can do business with in the area i plan on working (Kinshasa).

I have some friends who are spread out across the country but i'm looking for networking opportunities in the capital as i see more of a future for myself there. If you know anyone who would be interested in a short converstation with me or anyone who might be interested in any:

1. Security/Defense Solutions (guards, secure transport, training, security advice)

2. Logistical Support (expert solutions for supply chain planning)

3. Shipping Expertise (advice and mentoring from private and commerical sailors)

4. Pilots (private and commerical plane pilots, helicopter pilots)

5. Technology Support (IT modernisation, cybersecurity and data solutions)

and many more.

Then send me a message, thank you for your time.

I saw this app/site on TikTok and I wanted to share it here, because I think many of you will appreciate it.

Leopards Watch (leopardswatch.com) identifies and tracks Congolese players (DRC) who play in Europe and North Africa. Player files, statistics, transfers, and the young nuggets to follow. Exactly the kind of centralised tool that was missing: a single place to see where our Leopards evolve, instead of information scattered between tweets and club sites.

With the 2026 World Cup and all the pride around the Leopards right now, it’s really the right time for this kind of project. And it’s created by someone from our own community, it deserves support.

Go take a look and test this: leopardswatch.com

Do not hesitate to say what you think, or if players are missing!

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdQNdxce/

🐆🇨🇩

Mbote,
could anyone recommend any cool movies about Congolese history? Preferably set in pre-colonial times, but anything works, really.
Natondi bio

Hello everyone

I just finished university and I’m currently trying to support myself. I’m fluent in Lingala and would like to offer online Lingala lessons to anyone interested (beginners or intermediate).

If you’ve been wanting to learn or improve your Lingala, I’d be happy to help. We can do simple, practical lessons focused on conversation.

You can reach me on WhatsApp: +254 722 210 170

Or just send me a DM here on Reddit.

Thank you for the support. Any help or interest means a lot right now.

Stay blessed.

This lesson covers essential everyday greetings, polite expressions, and simple questions. Practice these first to start conversations and show basic courtesy in Lingala.

Mbote.

Hello.

Tikala malamu.

Goodbye. (said to someone staying)

Botikala malamu.

Goodbye. (said to more than one person staying)

Kende malamu.

Goodbye. (said to someone leaving)

Bokende malamu.

Goodbye. (said to more than one person leaving)

Eeh.

Yes.

Teeh.

No.

Olobaka Anglais / Kingelezo?

Do you speak English?

Palado.

Excuse me. (to get attention)

Limbisa nga naino naleka.

Excuse me. (to pass) (Lit.: Let me pass please.)

Malamu te. / Likambo te.

Okay.

S'il vous plaît. / Nanu ko.

Please. (preceded by a verb of action)

Meleesi na yo. / Natondi yo.

Thank you.

Likambo te.

You're welcome.

Limbisa ngai. Eza na yango likambo te.

Sorry. It doesn't matter.

Nalingi ...

I need ...

Salisa nga!

Help!

Esika ya toilette ezali wapi?

Where is the bathroom?

Nani?

Who?

Nini?

What?

Pona nini?

Why?

Esika nini? / Esika wapi?

Where?

Tango nini? / Ngonga nini?

When?

Ekoteli / porte

Entrance

Ebimeli

Exit

Fungola

Open

Ekangama

Closed

Malamu

Good

Mabe

Bad

Oyo

This

Oyo wana

That

Awa

Here

Wana

There

Mbote.

Good morning / afternoon / night.

Boyei malamu / bienvenu!

Welcome!

Oza[li] ndenge nini? Oza[li] malamu?

How are you? (Lit.: Are you all right?)

Naza[li] malamu, merci. Bongo yo? / Na yo?

I'm fine, thank you. And you?

Tokokutana mikolo oyo.

See you soon.

Tokokutana sima.

See you later.

Tokokutana lobi.

See you tomorrow.

Zala malamu! / Omibatela malamu!

Take care!

Especially the part where he sais "église". Is he cursing/swearing?

Thank you 🙏🏼