• Democratic Republic of the Congo selected a public-private partnership to pave 258 km of National Road No. 27 in Ituri province.
• The project carries an estimated total cost of about $1.54 billion, with upfront investment needs of $408.3 million.
• The concession will run for 25 years under a Build–Operate–Transfer model and include tolling to ensure returns.

According to a statement by Good News Africa Sarl, the company signed a public-private partnership contract on February 12, 2026, with the Office des routes. The agreement grants a concession to pave 258 kilometers of National Road No. 27 between Komanda and Mahagi in Ituri province. The company said it transmitted the file to the Prime Minister’s Office through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works for approval.

According to the PPP Advisory and Coordination Unit (UC-PPP), which approved the project in June 2025, the estimated “total cost” stands at about $1.54 billion. The unit clarified that the figure may reflect the project’s overall value over the concession period rather than only initial capital spending. Authorities estimated investment needs at $408.3 million, or roughly $1.58 million per kilometer.

During a public meeting held on July 18, 2025, in Bunia, Good News Africa executives said the contract would span 25 years. The plan allocates five years to construction and 20 years to operation. A memorandum of understanding signed on August 13, 2024, specified that the project would follow a Build–Operate–Transfer structure. Under the BOT model, the company will finance and build the road, operate it to recover its investment, and transfer it to the Office des routes at the end of the concession. The UC-PPP document classified the deal as a “public works and services concession.”

To secure project profitability, the operator plans to install automated toll stations and weighbridges to preserve road conditions.

Although Good News Africa Sarl signed the PPP, sources said in July 2025 that construction would involve a partnership with Congo Éveil Logistique. Both companies, led by Ituri-based business operators, said they had already commissioned an asphalt plant and a crushing facility in the Tsere grouping west of Bunia. The companies valued the facilities at $2.8 million. They said the installations can produce 200 to 300 tonnes of materials per day and 180 tonnes of asphalt per hour.

The Komanda–Mahagi road serves as a strategic corridor for Ituri province. The route crosses the territories of Komanda, Irumu, and Djugu to the Mahagi border post, which connects DR Congo to Uganda. The corridor plays a central role in supplying Bunia with manufactured goods and petroleum products from Uganda and Kenya while serving several areas with strong agricultural and commercial potential.

However, the stretch linking Mahagi to Bunia has faced frequent blockages due to severe road degradation. These disruptions have constrained trade flows and pushed up consumer prices in Bunia.

Timothée Manoke (Bankable)