Buenassa Resources Unveils Board of Directors to Drive DRC’s First Congolese-Led Integrated Copper-Cobalt Refinery

Kinshasa, DRC — July 31^st, 2025

Buenassa S.A.R.L., a Congolese-owned company committed to enabling value creation across the critical minerals value chain, announced today the formation of the Board of Directors of Buenassa Resources S.A. — the dedicated entity tasked with delivering the DRC’s first fully integrated copper and cobalt refinery complex under Congolese ownership. 

This new governance structure reflects Buenassa’s shift from concept to execution, bringing in seasoned leaders from government, finance, industry, and academia to guide the project’s development through its next strategic phases. 

Following the Government’s recent entry into Buenassa Resources as a strategic shareholder through a 10% golden share, the appointment of the Board marks a strong step forward in consolidating Buenassa’s commitment to responsible governance, national alignment, and industrial excellence. 

“We’ve assembled a Board that reflects the scale of our ambition — experienced, visionary, and fully aligned with the DRC’s long-term industrial strategy,” said Eddy Kioni, Chief Executive Officer of Buenassa S.A.

“Led by the Honorable Samy Badibanga, former Prime Minister of the DRC, this Board brings together strategic depth and international reach to support a Congolese-driven industrial transformation, rooted in local beneficiation and national priorities.” 

The Board will ultimately be composed of 12 members, evolving to reflect the company’s strategic priorities. As part of this evolution, two representatives of the Congolese State are expected to join shortly, in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement signed on June 24, 2025.  

Board of Directors of Buenassa Resources S.A. 

Samy Badibanga (Chair) 

The Honorable Samy Badibanga is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most respected political figures, having served as Prime Minister of the DRC from 2016 to 2017 and as First Vice President of the Senate from 2019 to 2021. A staunch advocate for transparency and good governance in the management of natural resources, he formerly chaired the National Assembly’s Commission on Natural Resources, where he was instrumental in shaping key mining and energy legislation. Mr. Badibanga’s decades-long career spans policy, diplomacy, and economic governance, making him uniquely equipped to lead Buenassa Resources’ Board of Directors as it scales a project of national significance. 

Eddy Kioni 

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Buenassa S.A., Mr. Kioni is a multi-entrepreneur with experience in both Europe and the DRC. He has spent over a decade at the nexus of public policy and private enterprise, with a strong track record in the energy and extractive sectors. He served as Executive Secretary of the Government’s Economic and Technical Commission, as well as Chief of Staff within a government ministry and senior advisor to national authorities. Over the years, he has held board positions in several companies, leading initiatives across industrial project development, investment structuring, and public-private partnerships. With a solid understanding of international business standards and their practical application in the Congolese context, Mr. Kioni brings both strategic vision and operational capacity to the Board. 

Dr. Marie-Paule Donsimoni-Bupp 

Dr. Donsimoni is a distinguished economist and social entrepreneur with nearly four decades of experience in technology-driven knowledge management and productivity. She held senior executive roles in geopolitical analysis and education across Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East before turning her focus to Africa, where she has built ventures that created hundreds of local jobs. She is the former CEO of AIDA, a firm facilitating infrastructure and ICT projects in Southern Africa. Dr. Donsimoni has taught as a professor at Columbia University, Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), and other academic institutions. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University and has served on advisory boards, including Oxford Analytica. Her deep academic grounding and experience in sustainable development will be instrumental to Buenassa’s growth trajectory. 

Didier Tshidimba 

Didier Tshidimba is a senior management consultant with over 25 years of experience advising regulated industries such as utilities, energy, transportation, and public services. He specializes in strategic and organizational development, helping private and public institutions become more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. Mr. Tshidimba has held top leadership roles at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, including serving as Managing Partner in Belgium and Scandinavia and as a member of the firm’s Global Supervisory Board. Next to this, he has been holding several Board mandates such as at the King Baudouin Foundation, sitting in the Strategic Investment Committee for Africa; at Hydrobox, an Independent Power Producer active in Kenya and DRC, or at the Brussels-Africa Hub, an organization seeking to foster Impact Investment between Europe and Africa.  He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering (Applied Mathematics) and brings valuable expertise in strategic planning and corporate governance to guide Buenassa’s industrial ambitions.  

Henri Désiré N’Zouzi 

Henri Désiré N’Zouzi is a Congolese economist, geopolitical analyst, and international media consultant with over two decades of experience in diplomacy, strategic communications, and diaspora affairs. A former diplomat, he has contributed to Voice of America for over 13 years and serves as a diplomatic correspondent for Medi1 TV and a consultant to VoxAfrica TV. He is also an expert-consultant to the Egmont Institute and co-founder of the African Diaspora Network in Europe (ADNE). Mr. N’Zouzi has moderated and officiated major international events, including the African Union Heads of State Summit on Positive Masculinity, Pre-COP27, and the 2024 presidential inauguration in the DRC. A strong advocate for intercultural dialogue, he brings to Buenassa a unique perspective on African diplomacy, media, and stakeholder engagement.  

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About Buenassa S.A.R.L. 

Buenassa is a company based in the Democratic Republic of Congo whose vision is to cover the entire mineral supply chain, from extraction to export, by promoting responsible practices embedded in the climate action awareness and for the benefit of local communities, supporting inclusive economic development of youth and gender.​ Buenassa develops projects aiming at implementing local minerals beneficiation programs for the development of the Congolese national mining industry.​ 

About Buenassa Resources S.A. 

Buenassa Resources S.A. is a dedicated entity of Buenassa S.A., established to lead the development of the DRC’s first Congolese-led integrated copper and cobalt refinery. Through a strategic partnership with the Government of the DRC, Buenassa Resources is advancing a national vision for value-added mineral processing—anchored in transparency, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic transformation. 

For more details, visit our website or contact our team:

Media contact: media@buenassa.com