Heineken Loses Operational Control in Congo’s Conflict Zones After Facility Seizures

Heineken has withdrawn its staff and lost operational control of its facilities in the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dutch brewer announced on Friday.

Earlier in February, the company suspended operations in three cities after some of its breweries were damaged and depots looted during clashes between government troops and rebel forces.

Stock, raw materials and equipment were stolen and there was “significant damage” to the brewery control room, Heineken said in a statement. “Assessing the full extent of the damage will take time,” it said at the time.

A dept 120km further south in Uvira has also been looted by “military and militia groups. We are greatly relieved that no Bralima colleagues or their families were harmed,” the Amstel brewer added.

At the time, Heineken, which operates four breweries in the DRC producing Heineken, Primus, Amstel, and other popular brands, said it would keep the affected sites closed until conditions were safe enough to resume operations.

However, in an updated statement, the company said the security situation has worsened, with armed groups now controlling its facilities in Bukavu and Goma, eastern Congo’s two largest cities, and surrounding areas, according to Reuters.

“The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present, and as of June 12, 2025, we have lost operational control,”

“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees. We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and have continued to support them financially,” Heineken said.

The brewer’s Congolese subsidiary, Bralima, continues to operate in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict. Heineken added that it is closely monitoring the situation.

The recent developments in eastern DRC could deal a significant blow to Heineken, whose operations in the region were already under pressure. Social unrest has also complicated the company’s activities in other African markets such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique.

In 2024, Heineken reported €4.13 billion ($4.3 billion) in revenue from Africa and the Middle East, one of its four core geographic segments, a 2.3% decline from the previous year. Beer sales in the region fell to 29.5 million hectolitres, down from 34.8 million in 2023.

Before the current escalation, Heineken’s operations in the eastern cities of Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira made up roughly one-third of its business in the DRC.