Ivory Coast: DRC participates in the 114th session of the International Cocoa Organization
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is actively participating in the work of the 114th ordinary session of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), opening on September 14, 2026 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Scheduled until September 18, this session brings together the signatory and ratifying countries of the International Cocoa Agreement (ICA) 2026. Participants will examine in particular the different stages leading to the official entry into force of this new agreement.
The new agreement mainly aims to strengthen the sustainability of the cocoa sector and improve the living conditions of producers. It is based in particular on two major axes: guaranteeing a vital income to producers and promoting respect for sustainable development standards, in particular through traceability and the fight against deforestation.
The Congolese delegation is made up of experts from the cocoa sector and is led by Jonathan Kasereka, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Minister of Foreign Trade.
The DRC signed the International Cocoa Agreement on June 3, 2026. It then took a decisive step in the ratification process with the adoption of the text by Parliament at the beginning of July, followed by the promulgation of the ratification law by the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, on July 13, 2026.
Through this ratification, the DRC confirms its commitment to a more sustainable, equitable and environmentally friendly cocoa sector. Its participation in the work in Abidjan thus constitutes a new stage in the implementation of this international agreement.
