Heineken awithdraws Staff, Halts Operations Due to Rising Conflict
Heineken has retracted its personnel and halted operations in principal cities of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid an escalating conflict with the M23 rebel group, which has led to the loss of operational command over certain facilities.
The Dutch brewing conglomerate confirmed this development on Friday, citing security threats as armed factions seized its sites in Bukavu and Goma, the two largest urban centers in the region, as reported by Reuters.
The company disclosed that it initially suspended operations in March 2025 in Bukavu, Goma, and Uvira after some breweries were attacked and depots plundered during skirmishes between government forces and rebel fighters.
However, the security situation has deteriorated further, necessitating a complete withdrawal from the affected areas. “The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present, and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control,” Heineken stated in an official announcement. “Our foremost priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees. We have evacuated all remaining staff from these locations and continue to support them financially.”
Heineken operates in the DRC through its local subsidiary, Bralima, which still conducts activities in parts of the country unaffected by the conflict.
The company expressed its intent to continue closely monitoring the situation.
Key Information:
Heineken owns four breweries in Congo, producing its flagship beer alongside local favorites like Primus.
The Bukavu facility alone employed approximately 1,000 individuals prior to the suspension of operations. The cities of Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira previously comprised about a third of Heineken’s business in the nation, which boasts a population exceeding 100 million.
According to Reuters, the DRC is part of a larger growth region for Heineken, with nearly 14% of the company’s global revenue deriving from its operations in the Middle East and Africa. The company’s withdrawal follows intensified hostilities in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has achieved significant territorial gains.
The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels with troops and weaponry, an allegation Rwanda has consistently denied.
In February 2024, Nairametrics reported that the U.S. government strongly condemned Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 group. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller issued a press release titled “Escalation of Hostilities in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” reaffirming Washington’s disapproval.
Efforts to de-escalate the crisis are ongoing. On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Congo, Rwanda, and the United States announced that technical teams had initialed a draft peace agreement, anticipated to be signed in the coming week.
