The Democratic Republic of Congo has allocated 20 percent of its new national budget to the military, a significant increase aimed at “reclaiming every inch of national territory seized by the enemy,” Prime Minister Judith Suminwa told Parliament on Tuesday.
Presenting the 2026 draft budget before the National Assembly, Suminwa announced a spending plan of 59 trillion Congolese francs—equivalent to more than US$20 billion. Nearly 12 trillion francs will be directed to strengthening the army, police, and security services.
The allocation marks a major jump from last year, when military, security, and justice combined accounted for 13 percent of the national budget. This year’s spending prioritizes the armed forces alone.
“In accordance with the vision of the Commander-in-Chief of our national army, the government is fully committed to recovering every part of our territory that has fallen into enemy hands,” Suminwa said in her address to MPs.
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Kinshasa is currently engaged in a conflict with the AFC/M23 movement, which claims to control more than 34,000 square kilometers across North and South Kivu—territory it says is home to over 10 million civilians, including the key cities of Bukavu and Goma.
Both sides are participating in ongoing talks in Doha, Qatar, where regional and international mediators are attempting to secure a framework for peace and a ceasefire.
The budget increase follows the government’s broader defense plan expected to run through 2028, focusing on modernizing the military, improving troop welfare, reinforcing logistics, and upgrading military infrastructure.
Despite these plans, fighting continues in several parts of eastern DRC, where the national army, backed by the Wazalendo militia coalition, battles M23 fighters across shifting frontlines.
Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of providing military support to M23, allegations Kigali has repeatedly denied. Rwanda, in turn, accuses the Congolese army of collaborating with the FDLR, a militia with roots in those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The DRC government rejects this claim as well.
Beyond defense, Suminwa highlighted four additional priority sectors and their allocations under the new budget:
- Economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and industry – 11 trillion Congolese francs
- Education – 6 trillion francs
- Health , including universal health coverage, maternal care, and disease prevention – 5.5 trillion francs
- Social welfare , including pensions and support for displaced populations, especially in the east – 1.2 trillion francs
According to the government, these investments are meant to stabilize the country, address urgent humanitarian needs, and build long-term resilience amid one of the region’s most complex and protracted conflicts.
