Fatshimétrie, November 5, 2025 – The question of the need to establish a legal and institutional framework for the Congolese Academy of Sciences (ACCOS) in the Democratic Republic of Congo was recently addressed following a meeting at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation in Kinshasa, as indicated in an official press release.
During this exchange, Professor Taba Kalulu, permanent secretary of the Congolese Academy of Sciences, expressed his concern about the current functioning of the institution. Indeed, although bringing together the best Congolese minds aged between 60 and 70, the ACCOS is struggling to fully accomplish its mission due to the absence of a clearly defined legal and institutional framework at the highest level of the State.
Prof. Taba Kalulu stressed the crucial importance of obtaining a presidential ordinance establishing the organization and functioning of the academy, to place it on an equal footing with similar structures benefiting from legal support in other countries.
In this spirit, the permanent secretary of ACCOS expressed confidence in the support of the Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation to advance his request to President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
Minister Gilbert Kabanda, for his part, asked his teams to examine the file and present him with a detailed report with recommendations concerning the operationalization of the Congolese Academy of Sciences.
It should be emphasized that ACCOS plays a vital role as an advisory body to the government for the implementation of advances in scientific research in various fields such as medicine, natural sciences, physical and applied sciences, human and social sciences, as well as the arts. Its main objective is to promote science as a real lever for the development of value chains in the DRC.
This meeting at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation is therefore crucial to ensure that ACCOS has the necessary institutional and legal support to fully accomplish its mission and contribute significantly to the scientific progress and development of the country.
It is hoped that the joint efforts of Professor Taba Kalulu, Minister Gilbert Kabanda and President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo will bear fruit and allow the Congolese Academy of Sciences to shine and fully play its role in the promotion and advancement of science in the Democratic Republic of Congo.