DRC and Angola Push for New Agreements to Remove Fishing Barriers and Boost Cross-Border Economic Cooperation
Kinshasa and Luanda have been urged to strengthen coordination to remove obstacles hindering fishing activities along their shared maritime border.
The issue was at the center of discussions during a panel held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Kinshasa as part of the third DRC–Angola Economic Forum.
The forum brings together policymakers, business leaders, and technical experts from both countries to explore ways of improving economic cooperation and resolving cross-border challenges.
On the Angolan side, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Carmen do Sacramento Neto, expressed openness to collaboration and emphasized the importance of maintaining permanent dialogue between the two nations.
“You can count on us to work together. Whenever there is a problem, we must talk to each other to solve it,” she said, clarifying that there is no formal ban on fishing activities, but rather security-related control measures aimed at regulating operations in the border area.
The Congolese side, however, presented a more nuanced perspective. The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana, raised concerns about practices that negatively affect Congolese fishing operators.
He specifically cited the prolonged detention of fishing vessels in Angola, which in some cases lasts several months and disrupts livelihoods and commercial activities.
Despite differing interpretations of the situation, both parties agreed on one key point: the urgent need to formalize clear and mutually recognized agreements governing fishing operations in the border zone.
Such agreements would help secure investments, ensure the smooth movement of stakeholders in the fisheries sector, and promote sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources in this strategically important area.
In a context where fishing remains a vital economic activity for coastal and riverside communities and a sector with significant growth potential for both economies removing operational constraints is increasingly viewed as a priority.
Strengthened bilateral cooperation could transform the fisheries sector into a powerful driver of regional development and economic integration.
