DRC | The Africa List

A land of dense rainforests, torrential rivers and the continent’s most active volcanoes, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is as extreme in its beauty as its size. DRC boasts one of the most valuable reserves of minerals and precious gems in the world, including metals which are paramount to the assembly of mobile phones and laptops. It also has an enormous agricultural and hydropower potential that could turn the country into the torchlight and economic powerhouse of the continent.

Second largest country in Africa, with a land mass that nears the size of Western Europe and stretches two time zones.

The Congo River is the world’s second-largest river by volume and provides a key transport and trade route for much of Central Africa.

When completed, the Inga 3 dam on the Congo River has the capacity to be the largest dam in the world and produce up to 40,000MW.

Music is one of Congo’s most influential exports, filling the biggest venues from Abidjan, to Johannesburg to Havana with its world renowned Congolese rumba.

The Congo Rainforest is the second largest rainforest in the world, second only to the Amazon in South America. Virunga National Park in the east was Africa’s first national park and has the highest biological diversity of any national park in Africa.

Kinshasa’s is Africa’s third largest urban area after Cairo and Lagos and is now the world’s most populous French speaking city.

‘The Africa List allows me to learn from other leaders and peers across different sectors. This helps to not only overcome challenges in my day-to-day job but to also pass-on the flag and empower others.’

BARAKA KABEMBA, DRC ADVISORY LEADER, EY, DRC

DRC WORKING GROUP

Each local working group is selected from within The Africa List community based on their sector expertise and deep personal networks within each country. They are integral to the success of The Africa List and play a leading role in guiding the selection process of new members, helping to ensure that a diverse selection of the best companies and leaders are represented.

MARIE-CHANTAL KANINDA,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
WORLD DIAMOND COUNCIL

Marie-Chantal Kaninda has worked in high profile roles in international mining companies such as Rio Tinto and De Beers. She is currently the Executive Director of the World Diamond Council and also leads consultancy firm MCK & L which provides local knowledge for businesses wishing to operate in Africa. Marie-Chantal also devotes personal time to causes involving improvement of business transparency and the improvement of the private sector environment in DRC.

MONIQUE GIESKES,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
VLISCO

Monique has been Regional Director of clothing company Vlisco’s Central African cluster since 2015. Her career has focused on managerial, commercial and legal affairs in Africa, Europe and Asia. In 2008, she launched the operations of the Vlisco Group in the DRC and took it from a start-up business into an iconic luxury goods company with a large distribution network and flagship stores throughout Central Africa. Monique sits on the board of Feronia Inc., one of the largest palm oil producers in Africa. She was educated in Belgium and the USA.

DIDIER M’PAMBIA,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
OPTIMUM MAGAZINE

Didier has over 20 years’ experience in communications and public relations, and is the Managing Director of Optimum Agency and Senior Editor of Optimum Magazine. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Marketing and also holds a degree in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Montreal.

TEZA BILA,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
CONGO INVEST CONSULTING

Teza Bila is the co-founder and CEO of Congo-Invest Consulting (CIC), an investment consulting company. Teza has worked in the public sector, as well as the private sector having previously served as Chief Financial Officer at the Ministry of Public Enterprises where she oversaw all financial operations related to the Ministry cabinet. Teza holds a Business Degree from the Catholic University of Louvain, IAG-School of Business in Belgium, and participated in an exchange program at the UT-Austin McCombs School of Business.

BARAKA KABEMBA,
SENIOR PARTNER,
ERNST & YOUNG

Baraka started his professional career in 2001 as an auditor with PwC in Brussels. He then relocated to Libreville, Gabon, to build the Advisory practice across Central Africa (Congo B, DRC, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroun). Baraka moved to his native DRC and joined EY in 2012. He is currently EY’s Advisory Leader and focuses on developing the Central Africa practice

KHALIL HAJEE,
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
CYAD GROUP

Having started his career in Uganda, Khalil Hajee is now the Managing Director of an investment company with a footprint in several countries in the Central African Region including the DRC. Investee companies are diversified across sectors from printing and packaging to call centres to fabrication of steel structures – collectively employing over 1,000 people.

BRIEUC DE PIERPONT,
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
COMPAGNIE SUCRIÈRE DE KWILU-NGONGO

Brieuc is the Chief Financial Officer of Compagnie Sucrière de Kwilu-Ngongo (CSKN) in DRC. In 2016, Brieuc became the youngest CFO of the Group at the age of 29. After working a couple of years in Belgium in an Engineering Services Company, he decided to take the step of the African adventure and joined the FINASUCRE Group in Kinshasa in 2014. Brieuc holds a master’s degree in Applied Economics from the Louvain School of Management (LSM) in Belgium.

ANGÉLIQUE BUISINE,
CEO,
SODOPAL

Angélique is an entrepreneur leading a family business in the logistics and river transport sector in DRC. In 2017, she also co-founded the company B&T Investment which is developing a pilot project focused on affordable and environmentally friendly coffins in the DRC. Angélique is also a director and active member of the Congolese Businesses Federation, where she provides oversight and guidance on transport sector issues and women’s economic empowerment.

STEVE LUSINDE,
HEAD OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND REGULATIONS,
ORANGE DRC

Steve is a trained lawyer with a firm interest in communications and public relations. As Head of External Affairs and Regulation he works closely with public authorities and partners to build the reputation of Orange in the DRC. He has also worked to build social and community projects for local authorities in the country.

COLARD NKOLE TSHIYOYO,
PROJECTS DIRECTOR,
HELIOS TOWERS DRC

Colard began his career in 2003 as an Assistant Professor and independent civil works consultant in DRC. He joined the telecoms industry through Celtel Congo in 2004, when working in the project department for GSM sites construction. Starting as site supervisor, he worked his way up to become Project Director for Helios Towers in the DRC.

JONATHAN JOHANNESEN,
CEO,
CFC AND FLASH

Jonathan has built his career pioneering financial services initiatives in the central Africa region. Today he is the CEO of mobile money companies CFC and Flash. His next challenge is to provide mobile financial inclusion for around 2 million customers in the DRC and the Republic of the Congo.