The deal, expected to be finalized by the end of 2025, is intended to “safeguard jobs and livelihoods, maintain vital community services, and prevent misuse of the facility in a volatile security environment,” the company said in a statement. Heineken also retains a three-year buyback option, allowing the brewer to resume operations if conditions stabilize enough for sustainable business.
Eastern Congo has been rocked by violence from Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who captured Goma in January and Bukavu in February. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. Rwanda has denied supporting M23, stating its forces act in self-defense, while the U.S., Qatar, and African mediators are pursuing a peace deal aimed at attracting Western investments to the region’s mineral-rich areas.
In June, Heineken reported that armed personnel had seized control of its Bukavu and regional facilities, which previously employed around 1,000 people directly and indirectly. Under the new arrangement, Synergy Ventures will assume full responsibility for operations, employee safety, and tax obligations.
Heineken’s Congo unit, Bralima, continues to operate in parts of the country unaffected by the conflict, signaling the company’s ongoing commitment to the DRC despite the challenges in the east.
This move highlights the complex balance multinational companies face when operating in conflict zones, weighing humanitarian concerns, employee safety, and long-term business viability.