Congo plans to address 9 million-unit housing deficit with new 10-year plan

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently working on a ten-year urbanization and habitat plan for the period 2026 to 2036, Minister of Urban Planning and Housing Claude Alphonse Nsilou said at a ministerial roundtable during the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) taking place in Baku, Report informs.

The minister noted that the country is experiencing an unprecedented phase of urbanization.

"Every year, over one million new residents move to our cities. The country's capital, Kinshasa, with a population of approximately 17 million, is among the fastest-growing megacities on the planet. According to Congolese data, 82% of households lack formal land titles, and the housing shortage amounts to 9 million units. In response to this situation, the government has identified urbanization as a national priority. We are developing a ten-year urbanization and habitat plan for 2026-2036, the goal of which is to transform urbanization processes into a tool for economic, social, and environmental progress," emphasized Nsilou.

According to him, this plan is based on three key areas: advanced planning, the implementation of large-scale urban expansion and modernization projects, and the development of small and medium-sized cities along economic corridors.