• The DRC signed a defense contract with Turkey’s MKE to upgrade military equipment for its armed forces.

• The partnership focuses on operational capacity, skills transfer, and building a domestic defense industry.

• Kinshasa aims to deepen ties with Ankara while targeting $500 million in bilateral trade.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expanding its military cooperation with Turkey as it seeks to diversify defense partners and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) amid persistent security challenges in the eastern region.

The DRC and Turkey advanced this cooperation through the signing of a contract between AFRIDEX and Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), a Turkish state-owned company specializing in weapons, ammunition, and military equipment production. The agreement formalized a new phase of industrial and defense collaboration.

Officials concluded the deal during the official visit to Ankara of Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita. The Congolese Ministry of Defense said the agreement aims to improve the FARDC’s equipment capabilities.

Partenariats stratégiques et pragmatiques pour répondre efficacement aux défis sécuritaires de l'heure, la RDC compte se ressourcer de l'expertise militaire turque dans la mise en condition des FARDC.

Honneurs et parade militaire en son honneur, le patron de la défense nationale… pic.twitter.com/bVfiC4Cbhc

— Vice-Primature, Ministère de La Défense/RDC (@VPMDefenseRdc) April 21, 2026

Beyond the industrial component, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita held talks with his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler. The discussions focused on deepening bilateral cooperation across three pillars: strengthening the FARDC’s operational capacity, transferring technical skills, and gradually developing a domestic Congolese defense industry.

Expanding Strategic Cooperation

Kinshasa is also pushing to accelerate the implementation of agreements signed in 2022, particularly those related to defense sector industrialization and financial support. In parallel, Ankara is reaffirming its commitment to supporting the modernization of the Congolese military under a mutually beneficial partnership framework.

Meanwhile, the security situation in the DRC remains highly volatile, especially in the eastern region, where clashes with armed groups continue, including the AFC/M23, which Kinshasa says receives backing from Kigali. As a result, the government is engaging in negotiations in Washington and Doha with support from Qatar, the United States, and the African Union to secure a credible and verifiable ceasefire.

The military partnership between Kinshasa and Ankara has gained strategic depth in recent years. The framework agreements now cover training, equipment supply, and the development of a defense industry modeled on Turkey’s experience. Turkey leverages one of the largest armies within NATO and a rapidly expanding defense sector to provide the DRC with access to modern equipment, advanced technologies, and training programs.

At the same time, both countries are expanding ties in trade, investment, and education. Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have set a target to increase bilateral trade volume from $200 million to $500 million in the medium term. They announced this ambition on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

This article was initially published in French by Charlène N’dimon

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum