AFC/M23 has showcased a 3.7 megawatt solar power plant installed on the outskirts of Goma, in a move aimed at tackling severe electricity shortages in the city following years of conflict and chronic infrastructure gaps.
The facility, developed by private a company, Nuru Congo Connecté, is valued at US$15 million and is primarily focused on supplying electricity to Masisi and its surrounding villages, where access to power remains limited.
Nuru is backed by four major investors, including the French government and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, among others. The electrification of Goma is part of an initiative supported by the North Kivu provincial government, aimed at giving local communities the opportunity to actively participate in rebuilding their own country.
The project comes as much of Goma’s electricity infrastructure has either been destroyed during the war or was never fully developed, leaving large parts of the population without reliable access to electricity.
In addition, AFC/M23, together with local investors, is committing a further US$6.8 million specifically to expand electricity access across Goma city and its outskirts, targeting urban distribution and household connectivity.
Willy Manzi, deputy governor of North Kivu, described the initiative in ambitious terms, stating, “We are on a mission to light up every corner of Goma by June, achieving a milestone that has never been reached before.”
Officials say the project reflects a shift toward decentralized and renewable energy solutions in a region where traditional power systems remain fragile, while also highlighting growing collaboration between local authorities and private sector partners.
Despite ongoing security challenges, the initiative is being presented as both a reconstruction effort and a practical response to immediate economic and humanitarian needs, with expectations that improved electricity access could accelerate recovery and stability in Goma and surrounding areas.
