DRC Launches Digital Reform to Modernize Foreign Trade Management

Kinshasa, DRC | December 29, 2025 The Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a major step in modernizing foreign trade with the launch of electronic transmission of documentation packages from the S-ONE system of the Integrated Single Window Operating Company (SEGUCE) to SYDONIA World, the automated system of the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA). The launch was presided over by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa on Monday, December 29. This historic reform is designed to facilitate import and export operations, improve information flow between stakeholders, and strengthen resource mobilization for the state coffers. According to Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku, the reform will reduce costs and delays for import, export, and transit operations, ensure complete transparency, guarantee traceability, and enforce standards. "I want to reassure economic operators that this reform will not hinder trade operations. On the contrary, it will reduce costs and delays, strengthen transparency, and protect agents from harassment," Paluku emphasized. Prime Minister Suminwa described the initiative as a historic revolution for the DRC, further consolidating its integration into international trade. “The implementation of electronic transmission marks a decisive step in digital development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” she stated. Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba highlighted that the reform will simplify procedures and increase public revenue by combating customs fraud. Beyond technical modernization, the reform also represents a shift in administrative culture, promising reduced processing times, enhanced traceability, increased transparency, and a direct fight against fraud. Mandatory for all users, the new system is seen as a critical lever for improving the business climate, securing public revenue, and integrating the DRC into international trade standards.