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DRC: the four points of regulation and “prudential” control of the insurance market

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The content of insurance contracts, pricing, corporate governance and the solvency of insurance companies. These are the four essential points on which the Congolese Regulator of the insurance sector watches. Objective: to ensure the protection of consumer rights and the prevention of systemic risk with a view to establishing a dynamic, inclusive, fair market that complies with international standards.

The Breakfast Connexion program and its partners including Top Congo FM, B-Map and Zoom Eco gave the opportunity to the Director in charge of Control and Regulation of the Authority for Control and Regulation of Insurance (ARCA), Robert Matungala to interact with economic operators on the stakes of the missions assigned to their institution.

Regulation and control
According to this ARCA framework, regulation consists of designing the prudential norms governing insurance activities. This means that the regulator’s function is to put in place the rules governing the activities of insurers.

Control, meanwhile, is to apply the prudential rules and ensure compliance with them, especially since the controller’s mission is to apply the standards to insurance companies and verify compliance with them.

“All the action of the supervisory authorities is geared towards prevention. The goal is to avoid failures of insurance companies. An innovative and credible insurance market can only derive from a regulation designed a priori. Because, it is the regulation which, to be effective, must derive from an innovating and credible market”, he indicated.

At the ARCA, reassures Robert Matungala, everything is implemented so that the regulation adapts to the reality of the market, to the reality of the products, to the reality of the techniques of coverage of the commitments. This gives the Regulator the advantage of being constantly attentive to the market in order to incorporate, in real time, market innovations, concerning both insurance products and financial products.

He stressed that “the more regulation is – up to day – and includes the latest market innovations, the more it promotes the competitiveness of companies and reinforces their ability to cover their commitments. By being attentive to the market and attentive to the needs of the industry, the ARCA will provide them with ad hoc responses.”

DRC: ARCA, the first thirteen judicial police officers take an oath!

Two types of control
First, the documentary audit, which requires any insurer to provide ARCA with all the information required to carry out its permanent control mission in order to verify the financial strength of the company. Robert Matungala mentioned statistical and financial reports and information on his governance.

“Permanent control allows early detection of failures. The information is processed quickly and thoroughly. If deficiencies are detected, the ARCA directs the insurer to take corrective action”, he said.

Then there is the on-the-spot check. This inspection will allow ARCA to have information and detect problems that can not be obtained or detected through remote inspection. The frequency of programming will be high among insurers with financial difficulties, while the duration depends on the nature, size and complexity of the controlled insurer.

For Robert Matungala, “these controls are important. Because, they can sometimes reveal hidden problems, or problems that the insurer ignores. They give the controller the opportunity to interact directly with the insurer. When problems are identified, the ARCA prepares a report, discusses with leaders, and stops corrective actions. “

The ARCA will be required to take sanctions proportionate to the seriousness of the breaches when the measures enacted are not applied by the insurance company.

“These measures can range from warning, reprimand, the limitation of all or part of the operations, the suspension or resignation of the responsible officers, a fine, withdrawal of approval leading to the liquidation of the company insurances”, insisted the Director of Control and Regulation.

Eric TSHIKUMA

On the same subject:

DRC: « bank-insurance », RAWSUR LIFE willing to collaborate with the banking sector

Vincent Mwepu: « Activa Assurance aims to cover the DRC in three years »

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DRC: a joint commission soon to be set up to relaunch the biometric driving licence production process

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The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) intends to put an end to a kingdom of unqualified vehicle drivers.
To this end, the government has just announced the imminent creation of a commission to work on the production of the biometric driving license, a process interrupted in 2017.

The Minister of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, announced, during the Council of Ministers meeting of November 1, 2024, the formation of a joint commission for this purpose.

In the minutes of the Council of Ministers, the Government states that the commission in question will bring together representatives of the Office National de l’Identification de la Population (ONIP), the Direction Générale des Recettes Administratives, Judiciaires, Domaniales et de Participations (DGRAD), and a specialist service provider. The aim was to develop and analyze a process for producing and issuing driving licenses.

During the discussions, Jean-Pierre Bemba reported that the project aims to modernize and secure the process of obtaining a driver’s license.

The introduction of biometric features, reassured the Government, will enable us to combat fraud and forged documents more effectively, enhance road safety and improve the management of driver data.

The finalization of the partnership with the service provider before the implementation of the project seems to be the last turn initiated by the national executive before the issuance of secure driving licenses.

Olivier KAFORO

 

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DRC: Eric Tshikuma calls for an annual grant to support UNPC reforms

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National deputy Eric Tshikuma defended certain needs that he considers to be priorities and which must be included in the draft budget for fiscal year 2025. This was during the general debate that led to the admissibility of the 2025 Finance Bill by the National Assembly.

Among the priorities mentioned by this elected representative of Funa are the UNPC subsidy, the urgent needs of his Funa constituency, and the need to mobilize the resources required to provide the police with adequate equipment.

In short, he is sticking to a budget that will provide real solutions to the day-to-day challenges faced by the Congolese people.

Firstly, a subsidy for the UNPC

As a journalist and media manager, Eric Tshikuma recalls the importance of the recommendations of the États généraux de la Communication et des Médias in 2022.

At that time, the President of the Republic invited the Government to support the reform process of the Union Nationale de la Presse du Congo (UNPC) following its Congress.

National deputy Eric Tshikuma believes that this structure needs an annual subsidy, to ensure its smooth running and the implementation of reforms to clean up the media landscape.

Secondly, the priority needs of his constituency of Funa in Kinshasa.

Concerned about his base, he points out that in
a budget of 49,846.8 billion CDF, up 21.6% on the previous year, it’s only natural to think about strengthening public security.

National deputy Eric Tshikuma highlights the specific and urgent issues facing the people of Kinshasa, and particularly those of Funa, his electoral district. These concerns include issues of public safety, the lack of equipment and means of mobility for the police, and the shortage of staff in police stations and sub-stations. In addition, he insists on the fight against erosion heads, the cleaning up of rivers – notably Ndjili, Kalamu and Makelele – and the drainage of gutters.

Thirdly, mobilize the necessary resources to provide the police with equipment.

Against the backdrop of a significant increase in investment appropriations in this draft budget, rising from 15.1% in 2024 to 48.4% in 2025, and a 25.2% rise in security spending, Eric Tshikuma notes the need for the Government to mobilize the necessary resources to provide the police with equipment and mobility. This will solve the problem of understaffing and improve working conditions for officers in police stations and sub-stations, including his base in Funa. He also recommends the allocation of funds to local security committees to ensure their proper functioning.

As far as erosion control is concerned, the elected representative of Funa is calling for sufficient funding to enable the relevant departments – such as OVD and OR – to become fully involved.

“The central government must provide financial support to provinces such as Kinshasa, which has more than 300 erosion sites, a large proportion of which are in Funa (notably Selembao and Makala)”, he insists.

With regard to the cleaning of rivers – Ndjili, Kalamu, and Makelele – and the drainage of gutters in Kinshasa, including in Funa, MP Tshikuma felt that the funds provided for in the draft 2025 budget remain symbolic and largely insufficient to cover a regular annual cleaning plan.

“We recommended an increase in funding to enable government services to intervene upstream, and thus avoid the floods that are hitting the people of Kinshasa,” he explains.

Still in line with the day-to-day needs of the Congolese people, he turned his attention to the question of degraded routes and roads.

“We have suggested that certain impassable routes be included among the government’s priorities. These include the RN3 (Bukavu-Walikale- Kisangani), Avenue de Libération (Bambole-Prison centrale de Makala-Marché de Selembao), and Avenue du Tourisme/Nzela ya mayi (Mimosas-Mont Ngaliema) in Kinshasa”, he declares.

National deputy Eric Tshikuma reassures us that he and his colleagues will be monitoring the progress of projects linked to the funds generated by the renegotiation of the Chinese contract.

In his capacity as a member of the Ecofin and Budgetary Control Commission, Eric Tshikuma intends to work actively with his colleagues to examine the 2025 Finance Bill in depth, with a view to making judicious improvements.

The Finance Bill 2025 was presented by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. It is balanced in revenue and expenditure at 49,846.8 billion Congolese francs (CDF), an increase of 21.6% on the 2024 budget.

Nadine FULA

 

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DRC: total public securities outstanding amounted to CDF 2,624.8 billion at October 24, 2024

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The Congolese government’s total outstanding public debt reached 2,624.8 billion Congolese francs (CDF) on October 24, 2024, reflecting improved public debt management in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This figure reflects the Government’s commitment to mobilizing financial resources to support its development projects, while effectively managing its obligations.

The results of the October 22, 2024 auction show that the Treasury raised USD 55 million out of an expected USD 50 million for two-year Treasury Bonds. This success is the result of strong demand, with bids reaching USD 75 million. This indicates growing investor interest in Congolese government securities.

At the same time, the Government raised all the bids received for the Obligations indexées du Trésor, totalling 5 billion Congolese francs (CDF), whereas the amount announced was 50 billion Congolese francs (CDF). This underperformance can be explained by the instability of the Congolese franc against the US dollar in recent years.

In terms of repayments, the Treasury repaid a total of 2,469.6 billion Congolese francs (CDF), including 1,532.3 billion CDF in Treasury Bills and 937.3 billion CDF in Treasury Bonds. These repayments are essential to maintain investor confidence and ensure liquidity on the market.

The total outstanding amount of government securities is a key indicator of the country’s financial health.

Year-on-year, it reflects the Government’s efforts to diversify its sources of financing and reduce its dependence on traditional tax revenues. This is particularly important in an uncertain global economic climate.

The economic situation in the DRC remains complex, with challenges linked to budget management and inflation. The country’s authorities must navigate between the need to invest in development and the prudent management of public debt.

Increasing the stock of government securities could be seen as a strategy to attract more foreign investment.

In the future, the Congolese government should continue to strengthen its public debt issuance strategy. This includes not only improved issuance conditions, but also transparency in the management of the funds raised. Clear communication with investors will be essential to maintain their confidence.

Transparency in the management of public securities is crucial to avoid problems of corruption and ensure that funds are used efficiently. In addition, the Government must put in place robust mechanisms to monitor the use of resources and report back to citizens.

The DRC government should also consider organizing regular forums with investors to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with public securities. This could help strengthen relations between the public and private sectors and foster a positive investment climate.

The overall stock of public securities in the DRC reflects the Government’s increasing commitment to improving its financial management and attracting investment. However, it is imperative that these efforts are accompanied by increased transparency and effective communication with stakeholders.

The road to sustainable financial management is still long, but these recent developments represent a step in the right direction.

Mitterrand MASAMUNA

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