Access to decent housing is a major issue for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, according to an official statement published on June 2, 2023, a deficit of around 4 million housing units was noted in the country. This situation can be explained in particular by the disappearance of the Caisse Nationale d’Epargne et des Crédits Immobiliers (CNECI) created in 1971, as well as the National Housing Office (ONEL), but also by the increase in the population.
To respond to this challenge, the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, has set up three public establishments: the Congolese Real Estate Promotion Agency (ACOPRIM), the National Housing Fund (FONAH) and the Single Window for Issuance building permits (GUPEC). ACOPRIM, responsible for building decent housing at affordable prices, must also rehabilitate real estate in the private domain of the State. The FONAH must collect the necessary funds to build housing and respond to funding requests in the area of housing. Finally, the GUPEC is the technical regulatory body and the only interface between property developers and the State.
If this triple reform is supported by the technical and financial partners of Brettonwoods, it will improve the access of Congolese populations to decent housing, as well as at an affordable cost. Indeed, the establishment of these establishments will help to build the regulatory framework for the housing sector, which was previously left under the aegis of anarchy because of the disparities in the field of real estate investment.
President Félix Tshisekedi has asked the ministers concerned to support these new structures positively, in order to quickly provide dignified and decent housing to the Congolese population. He even appointed the organizers at the head of ACOPRIM and FONAB, during his last meeting of the Council of Ministers.
However, the construction of 265,000 housing units per year, to fill the deficit of 4 million units, will not be easy to achieve. It will also be necessary to resolve the problems linked to insecurity in certain regions of the country, which are hampering construction work.
In short, President Félix Tshisekedi’s initiative is an important step in providing Congolese people with access to decent housing at an affordable cost. However, it requires an effective mobilization of all the actors concerned.