Kinshasa, April 16, 2026 — At first glance, the paradox is well known yet remains unresolved: despite its vast and fertile land, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to rely heavily on imports to feed its population. It is within this tense context that civil society actors, farmers’ organizations, and environmental groups gathered in Kinshasa to launch the National Alliance for Agroecology and Food Sovereignty (ANASA-DRC), with the ambition of influencing the country’s agricultural policies.
Behind this initiative lies a shared observation: the Congolese food system is weakened by a combination of structural factors. Land grabbing, the marginalization of small-scale farmers, the gradual disappearance of local seeds, persistent insecurity in certain agricultural regions, and weak distribution infrastructure all contribute to this fragility. Added to this are the effects of climate change, which disrupt agricultural cycles and increase the vulnerability of rural communities.
Participants at the workshop also highlighted ongoing changes in land use. The expansion of agro-industrial projects, extractive investments, and carbon market mechanisms are all dynamics that, according to them, are reshaping access to land—often to the detriment of customary systems. However, this perspective is not unanimous. Some observers point out that such investments can also represent economic opportunities, provided they are better regulated and supervised.
It is precisely on this issue of regulation that the Alliance intends to act. For its proponents, including Josué Aruna of the Congo Basin Conservation Society, the priority is to equip the country with a legal framework capable of protecting smallholder farmers while steering investments toward more sustainable models. “There is no food sovereignty without agroecology,” he asserts. While this position enjoys broad support in environmental circles, it nonetheless raises questions about its scalability in a country facing major logistical challenges.
Agroecology, as promoted by ANASA-DRC, is based on valuing local farming practices, diversifying crops, and preserving ecosystems. It is accompanied by strong advocacy for farmer-managed seeds, seen as a key lever for resilience in the face of climate shocks. Yet here again, the transition raises critical questions: how can sufficient yields be ensured for a rapidly growing population without relying on modern inputs? The debate remains open.
Beyond principles, the resolutions emerging from the workshop highlight concrete pathways. Land reform, redirecting agricultural financing toward smallholders, developing local markets, and investing in rural infrastructure are all identified as key levers to strengthen food autonomy. The Alliance also stresses the need to better integrate women, youth, and Indigenous peoples into decision-making processes, as they account for a significant share of agricultural production.
Another stated ambition is to structure a collective voice capable of influencing public policy. Inspired by continental dynamics, particularly those driven by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, ANASA-DRC aims to move beyond advocacy and engage in action and negotiation with public authorities.
As several international climate and biodiversity deadlines approach, expectations are high. The organizations gathered in Kinshasa are calling for concrete commitments: legal recognition of farmer seed systems, regulation of large-scale land acquisitions, greater accountability for extractive companies, and better alignment between agricultural policies and climate strategies.
One central question remains: will this momentum translate into tangible changes on the ground? Beyond declarations and alliances, food sovereignty in the DRC will depend on the ability to reconcile ecological ambitions, economic imperatives, and local realities. ANASA-DRC thus opens up a crucial space for debate. More than a ready-made solution, it lays the groundwork for a strategic choice about the future of the country’s agriculture—one that, to be effective, must contend with the complexity of the Congolese context.
By Asani Musungayi