DRC Signs Agreements With Africa Finance Corporation for MetroKin Rail Project and Kinshasa–Banana Feasibility Study

The agreements signed in Dubai on 12 October 2026 cover the first phase of MetroKin, which the ministry values at US$877 million, and a feasibility study for a new Kinshasa–Banana railway. The ministry says the study will define how the future line is developed, financed, built, operated and maintained.

The contracts signed in Kinshasa on 8 October 2026 govern operations and interconnection between the central station, 12th Street and the terminal at N’djili International Airport, and set out how MetroKin, RVA and ONATRA collaborate. MetroKin Director General Erick Onepunga Yongo said the start of works is announced for December 2026.

• The DRC government and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) signed a Joint Development Agreement on 12 October 2026 for the first phase of the MetroKin urban railway project in Kinshasa.
• The MetroKin first phase comprises a 25 km electrified, double-track railway between Kinshasa Central Station and N'Djili International Airport, together with 3 km of sidings.
• The proposed infrastructure includes eight stations, 52 pedestrian footbridges, new bridges, drainage structures and a railway viaduct over Boulevard du 30 Juin.
• A 35 MW thermal power plant is planned at Kin-Est to supply the network's operating systems, including signalling and train control.
• MetroKin is projected to carry 452,000 passengers daily, with potential capacity of 600,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2026.
• A separate memorandum of understanding covers financing of a feasibility study for the proposed Kinshasa–Banana railway, including its development, financing, construction, operation and maintenance arrangements.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Communications, and Rural Development, Jean-Pierre Bemba, signed two strategic agreements on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), represented by its CEO, Samaila Zubairu.

The first step, a Joint Development Agreement (JDA), concerns the first phase of the MetroKin project, an ambitious program to develop a 300-kilometer rail network in Kinshasa. Valued at US$877 million, the first phase includes the construction of a 25-kilometer electrified, double-track, fenced railway line connecting Kinshasa's Central Station to N'Djili International Airport. The line also includes 3 kilometers of sidings.

The project includes the construction of eight stations meeting international standards, including two large commercial stations, as well as 52 footbridges, new bridges, drainage structures, and a large railway viaduct spanning Boulevard du 30 Juin. A 35-megawatt thermal power plant will also be built in Kin-Est to supply the necessary energy for the network's operation, including train traffic control, signaling, and monitoring systems.

The MetroKin rail network is expected to transport 452,000 passengers per day, with a potential capacity of up to 600,000 passengers. Two services are planned: a direct line (Central Station - N'Djili Airport) and a service with stops at various stations. The journey time is estimated at 21 minutes for the direct line, compared to 26 minutes for the local service. The planned frequency is one train every four minutes. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2026.

The second document signed is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning the financing of the feasibility study for the new Kinshasa-Banana railway line. This study will define the terms of development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of this future line.