Heineken has agreed to transfer its brewery in Bukavu, the second-largest city in war-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, to Mauritian company Synergy Ventures Holdings Ltd for 1 euro, the Dutch brewer said in a statement on Wednesday.
The move comes after the company lost operational control of the facility earlier this year, Reuters reported.
According to the statement, the handover is expected to be completed by the end of the year and was “driven by a humanitarian objective to safeguard jobs and livelihoods, maintain vital community services and prevent misuse of the facility in a volatile security environment.”
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels staged a rapid offensive in eastern Congo this year, seizing Goma in January and Bukavu in February. The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Rwanda denies supporting M23 and says its actions are in self-defence.
The United States, Qatar and African mediators are working to broker a peace agreement that could attract Western investment to the region, particularly in the minerals sector.
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In June, Heineken reported that armed personnel had taken control of several of its facilities in Bukavu and other locations in the region.
The company previously said the Bukavu operations employed around 1,000 people directly and indirectly.
Synergy Ventures will take full responsibility for operations, employee safety and tax obligations, according to Wednesday’s statement.
Heineken retains a buyback option valid for three years “if conditions allow for viable operations.” Its Congo subsidiary, Bralima, continues to operate in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict.
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Image Credit: Reuters
