The SANDF’s ‘peace-keeping’ mission in the DRC has gone horribly wrong with hundreds of soldiers now effectively being held hostage by the M23 rebels at their base near Goma. The plan to rescue them is taking an awfully long time. Far away, in western DRC, however, two South Africans were on another rescue mission, this one with a quicker turnaround: a cannabis cultivator near Kinshasa was stuck with a broken operation and an unsellable stockpile - and needed some veterans to solve the problem.

South African Cannabis Expertise Gets to Work in the DRC

Cheeba Consultancy's Trenton Birch (pictured above left) Natie Ferriera (right) are old hands at the cultivation game and were contracted by the beleagured grower in the DRC to help fix the situation.  Birch told Cannabiz Africa on 25 February 2025, that the client, a licensed cultivator who wants to keep its identity confidential, ran into some major problems with the inaugural hemp season.

“Last year the company grew CBD without much experience” said Birch. “They learned some hard lessons, among them being the need for cultivation guidance, assistance with scaling and help in finding markets. We are busy working with them to optimise and upgrade their operation and we are linking to markets for offtake”.

Birch says the trip was initially postponed because of the war in the east and unrest in Kinshasa, but “but once things settled in Kinshasa, we decided to go.” He and Ferreira packed their bags for the four day February mission and departed.

The two were always aware of the conflict and monitored the situation closely during the trip. While they were in. the DRC, South Africa was digesting the news that 13 SANDF soldiers had been killed in a battle with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel movement. Although the conflict is currently centred in the mineral-rich eastern DRC over 1 000 km away, Congolese rebels ultimately have Kinshasa in their sights.

This is an excerpt from Birch’s Linked In post

“What a mind-blowing experience it was, an epic adventure. From the moment we arrived, the client took exceptional care of us—including a direct runway pickup at the airport. At no point did we feel unsafe, except for a tense moment when military personnel at the airport asked us for cash as we were leaving 😬.

One of the most striking aspects of the trip was witnessing the severe degradation of infrastructure and the sheer number of people living on the poverty line. It’s unfathomable how a country so rich in natural resources has been plundered by the West, leaving its people in such dire conditions - a scar on humanity.Yet, despite these immense challenges, the resilience and determination of the Congolese people were undeniable.

There is no doubt that the emerging Cannabis and hemp industry can play a transformative role in the country’s future. We look forward to supporting the team on the ground in unlocking its true potential.”

According to Wikipedia, the legal status of cannabis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is as follows:

Medicinal and Industrial Use: As of February 27, 2021, the DRC legalized the cultivation and use of cannabis for medical, industrial, and scientific purposes. This legislation permits licensed entities to cultivate and process cannabis for these specific applications. The first license for such activities was granted to TMIG/Instadose Pharma DRC. 

Recreational Use: The use, possession, sale, and cultivation of cannabis for recreational purposes remain illegal in the DRC. Despite this prohibition, cannabis is widely cultivated and used within the country, primarily for local consumption. The DRC is considered one of the largest producers of cannabis in Africa.