Heineken loses the operational control of the structures in the East-Hit of War of the Congo, et Bredequity

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Heineken has lost operational control and has withdrawn its staff from its structures in the areas affected by the conflicts of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dutch beer producer said on Friday.The drinks giant declared in March that his operations in three eastern cities would remain suspended until he was sure to reopen, after some of his breweries were affected and his deposits broke into the fighting between the army and the rebels.

But on Friday, the beer manufacturer said that the situation further deteriorated and that the armed staff took control of its structures in Bukavu and Goma – the two largest cities of the Eastern Congo, now under rebel control – and nearby areas.

“The conditions necessary to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and on 12 June 2025 we have lost operational control,” he said in a note. The unit of the Congo of Heineken, Bratina, still operates in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict, said the company, adding that it would continue to evaluate the evolution situation.

The group has four breweries in Congo, producing Heineken beer and other popular brands such as Primus. The Bokavu structures employed about 1,000 people both directly and indirectly, they had previously said.

“Our maximum priority is the security and well -being of our employees,” says his declaration on Friday. “We picked up all the remaining staff from these sites and continued to support them financially.”

Almost 14% of Heineken’s total revenues come from its activities in the Middle East and Africa, where the Congo, with its population of over 100 million, is a large market.

His operations in the cities of Goma, Bukavu and Uvira had previously represented about a third of Heineken’s activities in Congo.

The fighting in the eastern Congo intensified this year while the M23 rebel group organized a rapid progress that raised the fears of a wider conflict.

Congo says that Rwanda supports M23 by sending troops and weapons. Rwanda has long denied to help M23.

The two countries and the United States declared on Wednesday that their technical teams initially initially have a peace agreement project that should be signed next week.