Heineken loses control of Eastern DRC facilities amid escalating conflict
Brewer withdraws staff as armed groups take over facilities in Bukavu and Goma, halting operations in conflict-hit areas.
CONGO – Heineken has confirmed it has lost operational control of its facilities in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to intensifying insecurity.
The Dutch brewing company withdrew its remaining staff after the situation worsened further since its last update in February 2025.
In a statement issued on June 12, 2025, Heineken said: “The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and, as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control.”
The company’s facilities in Bukavu, Goma, and surrounding areas are now under the control of armed personnel. Heineken noted that it has evacuated all staff from the affected sites and continues to offer them financial support.
“Our thoughts are with our employees and their families during this difficult time. We are closely monitoring the situation and actively assessing our options as the situation evolves,” the statement read.
Bralima, Heineken’s local subsidiary in the DRC, had pre-emptively suspended its operations before fighting reached Bukavu and Goma.
In February, Heineken reported extensive looting at its Bukavu facilities, where stock, raw materials, and equipment were stolen. The brewery’s control room also sustained significant damage.
Additionally, a depot located 120 kilometers south in Uvira was looted by military and militia groups.
The M23 rebel group reportedly took control of Bukavu and Goma in January 2025, triggering heightened instability across the region.
Despite the challenges in the east, Bralima continues to operate in other parts of the DRC unaffected by the conflict.
Heineken operates four breweries across the country and employs approximately 1,000 people directly. While it does not disclose specific sales figures for the DRC, the brewer stated that beer volumes in the country declined “in the teens” in the first quarter of 2025.
At the group level, Heineken posted a revenue of €7.78 billion (US$8.92 billion) for the quarter, reflecting a 4.9% decline, alongside a 2.1% organic decrease in beer volume compared to the same period in 2024.
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