DR Congo

History

Coffee cultivation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in the early 1900s during the Belgian colonial era, with the Kivu region emerging as a primary hub for Arabica production. By the mid-20th century, the sector was highly regulated, and the country became a significant exporter, though production was dominated by large European-owned plantations. The industry faced severe disruption following the civil wars and political instability that began in the 1990s, causing exports to plummet and infrastructure to collapse. A pivotal shift occurred between 2008 and 2012, when international partnerships helped rebuild the sector by supporting smallholder cooperatives like Sopacdi. Today, the DRC is increasingly recognized for its high-quality Arabica, with government and private investment focusing on revitalizing the industry through cooperative-led specialty coffee production.