The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing to mobilize over USD 105 million to build two new universities in Kisangani and Mbandaka, a project that is part of a national strategy to modernize higher education.

Context and Key Figures

The DRC is preparing a public investment estimated at USD 105.6 million to build two universities in the provinces of Tshopo (Kisangani) and Équateur (Mbandaka).

These amounts stem from provisional award decisions published by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP) on February 16, 2026.

• University of Mbandaka: USD 54.7 million.
• University of Kisangani: USD 50.9 million.
• Financing: Public investment, within the framework of the Congolese government’s higher education policy.

Strategic Locations: Kisangani and Mbandaka

The first project involves the construction of the University of Mbandaka, the capital of Équateur Province, which will receive the largest contract, with USD 54.7 million provisionally awarded to a consortium of local companies.

The second project concerns the creation of a university in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, for an estimated USD 50.9 million, also awarded to a consortium of Congolese operators.

These two cities are major regional hubs, situated at the crossroads of important river and road routes, which underscores the importance of a more balanced university network across the country.

A Project Rooted in a National Program

These two universities are not isolated initiatives: they are part of a national program announced by President Félix Tshisekedi to build fourteen new universities across the country starting in the first quarter of 2026.

In his State of the Nation address on December 8, 2025, the Head of State presented an “ambitious program for modernizing infrastructure, academic reforms, and the digitalization of governance” in the sector.

The stated objective is twofold: to broaden access to higher education and to align Congolese university training with contemporary research and innovation requirements.

Integrated and Modernized Campuses

According to details provided by the Presidency and reported by the Congolese Press Agency, these new institutions are to be designed as integrated campuses.

They should include:

• Modern lecture halls and classrooms.
• Research laboratories and digital spaces.
• Physical and digital libraries.
• Health centers, reliable energy networks, and internal roads.
• Water infrastructure, security systems, and basic services for students and staff.

These infrastructures are designed to be “larger, more functional, and adapted to the contemporary requirements of education, research, and innovation.”

Implications for Education and Regional Development

This investment comes at a time when the expansion of higher education in the Democratic Republic of Congo is putting pressure on often outdated and overcrowded infrastructure.

The creation of new universities in Kisangani and Mbandaka should:

• Relieve overcrowding in the major institutions of Kinshasa and other urban centers.
• Provide young people in the Tshopo and Équateur regions with easy access to quality higher education.
• Stimulate local economies through construction projects and the subsequent long-term settlement of thousands of students and teachers.

In the medium term, these campuses could become true regional centers of expertise, capable of supporting public policies in research, innovation and territorial development.