O’Neige N’Sele: RDC Numérisation Cadastre Loi Foncière 2025 Ensures Permanence

• The 12th Expo Béton in Kinshasa on October 8, 2026, focused on land tenure security, cadastre digitization, and conflict prevention.
• Minister O’Neige N’Sele presented a new land law, promulgated on December 30, 2025, introducing cadastre digitization and administrative modernization.
• The RDC numérisation cadastre aims for permanence and involves geolocated plans, supported by training for over 350 agents.
• Customary authorities, represented by Mfumu Difima Bols, demand involvement in land procedures and protection of community rights, especially during expropriations.
• Persistent land conflicts in the RDC are attributed to spoliation, ignorance of land laws, and poor application, as highlighted by lawyer Me Défi Augustin Fataki.

Digitization has been enshrined in this law to give it a permanent character. It is not the work of one person. The law will therefore continue to produce its effects, even when the institutions or the people who animate them have left their functions.

The 12th annual Expo Béton, held in Kinshasa on Thursday, October 8, 2026, dedicated its second day to critical discussions surrounding land tenure security, the digitization of the cadastre, and strategies for preventing land ownership conflicts. The event convened experts under the theme, "Spatial planning, land tenure security, and cadastre digitization to guarantee real estate investments in Kinshasa: what future for the communes of N'Sele, Maluku, and Mont-Ngafula?" This focus highlighted the significant challenges and opportunities associated with the rapid urban expansion in these three key communes of the capital.

During a panel discussion, O’Neige N’Sele, the Minister of Land Affairs, introduced the pivotal reforms embedded within the new land law, which was officially promulgated on December 30, 2025. This comprehensive legislation is designed to modernize land administration and address long-standing issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The minister emphasized that the overarching goal of this reform is to enhance land management across the RDC, tackling persistent difficulties related to accessing accurate land information, as well as the structured organization and equitable distribution of land resources, particularly in areas undergoing significant development like Kinshasa.

A cornerstone of the new loi foncière 30 décembre 2025 is the RDC numérisation cadastre, alongside the broader modernization of land administration and the crucial capacity building for personnel within the sector. Minister O’Neige N’Sele underscored that the integration of digitization into the law aims to ensure its enduring impact, stating that "Digitization has been enshrined in this law to give it a permanent character. It is not the work of one person. The law will therefore continue to produce its effects, even when the institutions or the people who animate them have left their functions." This commitment ensures that the reforms will outlast individual tenures, providing a stable framework for land governance.

Beyond merely scanning existing documents, the digitization initiative involves the creation of geolocated land plans and the incorporation of advanced technical skills into the daily operations of land administration. To support this ambitious transformation, over 350 executives and agents received specialized training in new physical and digital archiving technologies between August and October 2026. This extensive training program was conducted in partnership with the Institut national des archives du Congo (INACO), preparing the workforce for the sophisticated demands of the modernized land system and enhancing the overall sécurisation foncière in Kinshasa and beyond.

The discussions at Expo Béton also brought to the forefront the critical issue of local community rights, particularly in the context of urban development and the aménagement territoire Maluku N'Sele. Mfumu Difima Bols, representing the Superior Council of Traditional and Customary Authority of the RDC, strongly advocated for the mandatory involvement of customary chiefs in all land procedures, especially in regions experiencing intense real estate pressure. He stressed that land administration must meticulously verify the actual status of land before any transfer occurs and must consult with the relevant customary authorities to ensure fairness and transparency. Bols asserted that the state bears the responsibility to guarantee and secure the occupation of villages and uphold the rights of customary chiefs.

Furthermore, Mfumu Difima Bols addressed the sensitive topic of expropriations for public interest, calling for the prior engagement of affected communities and the provision of suitable relocation solutions for displaced populations. He cited the Kiamona process, which involved the delimitation of 43,000 hectares, as an example where customary authorities should have been integral to initiatives aimed at relocating residents. He firmly stated that urban development should not come at the expense of our indigenous population, who have just as much right to enjoy and remain on their land. This sentiment highlights the ongoing challenge of resolving conflits fonciers RDC, which, as noted by Me Défi Augustin Fataki, a lawyer at the Court of Cassation, are often fueled by spoliation, a lack of understanding of land legislation, and its improper application.

Lawyers and compliance officers in the DRC must understand the implications of the new 2025 land law and the ongoing digitization of the cadastre. This reform impacts land transactions, property rights, and dispute resolution, requiring updated knowledge of administrative procedures and increased attention to the rights of local communities, especially in urban expansion zones like Kinshasa.

Source: Original reporting via Expo Béton event coverage