For more than 30 years, eastern DRC has been destabilized by insecurity, primarily caused by armed groups, including the FDLR formed by remnant perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
This ongoing insecurity has forced thousands of Congolese, mainly Rwandophones, to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
The refugee crisis, coupled with the DRC government's failure to address the situation, gave rise to the M23 rebel group.
M23 claims to advocate for the rights of marginalized Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
Since late 2021, M23 has been engaged in armed conflict with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), leading to further displacement and instability in the region.
During an interview with Jeune Afrique, RDB CEO, Jean Guy Afrika, highlighted that investments was asked whether the conflict in eastern DRC, which shares a border with Rwanda, has affected investment in the country.
'I will start with the fact that the situation in the eastern part of DRC has in no way affected the flow of investments in Rwanda,' Afrika said.
'In 2024, the latest data shows we grew our registered investments by 32% to nearly 3.2 billion from a base of about 2.5 billion. That's a fact, and we could share the data if needed.'
He attributed this resilience to Rwanda's proactive defensive measures, which have prevented the conflict from spilling into its territory.
Significant investments in the country's security architecture have created a safe environment, reassuring investors despite the instability caused by the DRC's refugee crisis and clashes between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).
Afrika highlighted that the regional situation is stabilizing, with the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes merged into a single framework managed by the African Union (AU).
'At some point, the EAC and SADC were involved, but the two were merged and now managed by the AU with the signing of the principles of agreements,' he explained. 'The path forward is much clearer now, and those fears that might have existed are in the past.'
This normalization has further bolstered investor confidence, contributing to a 30% jump in registered investments in 2024 compared to 2023.
The RDB's success stems from its investor-friendly approach, particularly through its one-stop center, which integrates 24 agencies and offers over 400 services, including licenses and permits.
'The whole idea was to create a seamless experience for the investor,' Afrika noted. 'When you operate in Rwanda, when you open a business, there is predictability in the regulatory environment, sanctity of contracts, and minimal red tape.'
This streamlined system addresses key pain points like land permits, titles, construction permits, electricity, and energy, ensuring a smooth experience.
'Initially, we had to tell our story, but increasingly, investors themselves are telling the story for us,' he added.
Rwanda's strategic focus on sectors such as real estate, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing has also driven growth.
'We target certain sectors: real estate, agriculture where we try to raise productivity, tourism, and manufacturing, a big sector,' Afrika said.
'Rwanda's unique selling proposition is becoming increasingly clear: you will have a regulatory environment that is conducive, predictable, and allows you to do business the way you want to do it.'
To support long-term growth, the RDB is tracking company survival rates to identify and address their needs.
Théophile Niyitegeka
