Due to its attractiveness, the DR Congo has progressively emerged as an interesting investment hot spot for the extractive industries in the Great Lakes region. Referring to the UNCTAD , in 2014, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flowsed to the DR Congo and reached USD 2,063,000,000, down from 1.7% compared to 2013. In 2015, they were only estimated at USD 1,673,000,000. In 2016 and 2017, major investments projects might be postponed asdue to lower commodities prices associated with growing political risk (see graph 3). According to the IMF, a decrease in FDI flows to the DR Congo was due to a wait-and-see attitude of the private sector in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections (the third electoral cycle since 2006). However, on 11 May 2016, the constitutional court stressed that the constitution of 18 February 2006 authorized the president to remain in office until the installation of the newly-elected president. Therefore, the presidential elections, which were initially foreseen in November 2016, have been postponed sine die. In this context, the political opposition has expressed concerns by calling for strikes throughout the country. From 16 to 20 January 2015, civil unrest was observed in the main cities (Kinshasa, Goma, and Bukavu), which prompted three business associations, in particular “Fédération des Entreprises du Congo” (FEC) to denounced violence related to the economic activities’ disruption. On 23 August 2016, the opposition called again for a national strike. Since 1 September 2016, a national dialogue has started in Kinshasa, the capital city. However, the process has to be inclusive to diffuse political tensions and prepare peaceful and transparent elections.

Graph 3. Evolution of FDI Inflows from 1990 to 2015


Referring to the World Bank’s Doing Business index , in 2015, the country only ranked 184 out 189 countries stressing that investor’s' confidence vis-à-vis the DR Congo remains critical. Since then, a slowdown in economic activities has been observed, which has contributed to further deteriorateion in the country’s business climate. On 17 June 2016, Moody’s maintained the DR Congo’s long term rating at B3 with a stable outlook. Nevertheless, it could downgrade the rating due to the institutional weakness increasing a risk of political turmoil.