Heineken has closed the door on nearly four decades in the Democratic Republic of Congo, selling its brewing subsidiary Bralima to Mauritius-based ELNA Holdings after armed conflict stripped it of control over its eastern operations.
The Dutch brewer announced the sale on Friday without disclosing financial terms. ELNA Holdings takes over production, distribution, and all staff. Bralima traces its origins to 1923, when Belgian investors founded it, and Heineken has held a majority stake since 1986, making this one of the most significant exits from its African portfolio.
Heineken Keeps the Brands, Loses the Breweries
Despite leaving direct ownership, Heineken retains its brand rights and will collect revenue through long-term trademark licensing agreements covering Heineken, Primus, Turbo King, Legend, and Mutzig.
Guillaume Duverdier, president of Heineken’s Africa Middle East region, said the deal allows the business to continue under a locally anchored model. It also, he added, reflects the company’s broader shift toward an asset-light approach in markets where ownership has become difficult to sustain.
How Conflict Forced the Exit
The sale follows two years of accelerating instability in eastern Congo. In February 2025, AFC/M23 rebels advanced on Bukavu, prompting security forces to withdraw and leaving Bralima’s brewery and depots exposed to extensive looting. By June, armed personnel had seized Heineken’s facilities in both Bukavu and Goma, and the company lost operational control entirely.
Heineken moved quickly to limit its exposure. In November 2025, it transferred the Bukavu brewery to a separate Mauritius-based buyer for one euro, holding a three-year buyback option should conditions improve.
What the Deal Covers
Friday’s transaction covers the three breweries that conflict did not reach — in Kinshasa, Kisangani, and Lubumbashi — which together employ approximately 731 people. These facilities continue operating under ELNA Holdings, with Heineken’s brands remaining on the shelves through the licensing arrangements.
The exit marks the end of a century-long story that began under Belgian ownership and ran through independence, decades of political turbulence, and ultimately a conflict that made direct ownership untenable.
