Heineken has withdrawn its staff and suspended operations in key cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a worsening conflict involving the M23 rebel group, which has resulted in the loss of operational control over some of its facilities.
The Dutch brewing giant confirmed the development on Friday, citing security risks as armed groups took over its sites in Bukavu and Goma, the two largest cities in the region, according to Reuters.
According to the report, the company said it had initially suspended operations in March 2025 in Bukavu, Goma, and Uvira after some of its breweries were hit and depots raided during clashes between government forces and rebel fighters. However, the security situation has since deteriorated further, prompting a complete withdrawal from the affected areas.
