South Africa: Tractafric Takes Full Control of Congo Equipment Dealer

29 June 2026
Daba Finance (Abidjan)

Tractafric Equipment International completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Bartrac Equipment from South Africa's Barloworld Equipment, becoming the sole shareholder of the Democratic Republic of Congo industrial and mining equipment distributor.

Tractafric is a unit of Optorg, the Moroccan group controlled by Al Mada. The transaction gives the company full control of Bartrac, whose subsidiary Congo Equipment is the official Caterpillar dealer in the DRC.

Bartrac plays a key role in the country's mining industry, supplying, maintaining and supporting equipment used in mining, infrastructure and public works. Its machines are used in major copper and cobalt projects in Katanga, including around Lubumbashi and Kolwezi, as well as in road and rail rehabilitation projects.

The deal follows a regulatory process that began in May, when Tractafric notified the COMESA Competition Commission of its plan to acquire the remaining stake. The transaction also comes after Bartrac received a $25 million guarantee from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency to help protect investments in a high-risk operating environment.

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Optorg President and Chief Executive Officer Tarafa Marouane said the acquisition reflects confidence in the DRC and strengthens the group's commitment to supporting the mining sector. Through Tractafric Equipment, Optorg distributes Caterpillar machines, generators, industrial engines and handling equipment across Africa.

Key Takeaways

Tractafric's takeover of Bartrac is a strategic mining-infrastructure deal. The DRC is one of the world's most important copper and cobalt producers, and miners depend on heavy equipment, spare parts, maintenance and technical support to keep projects running. By taking full control of Bartrac, Optorg gains a stronger position in a market tied to global demand for energy-transition minerals. The deal also strengthens Moroccan corporate exposure to Central Africa through Al Mada, which already has interests across banking, telecoms, distribution, construction materials and renewable energy. For Caterpillar, having a stronger local distributor can improve service coverage in a market where downtime is costly. The MIGA guarantee shows that the opportunity is large but the risk is real. Mining equipment distribution in the DRC depends on political stability, security, logistics, foreign exchange, contract enforcement and commodity cycles. If Tractafric can manage those risks, full control of Bartrac could give it more flexibility to invest, expand services and capture growth from mining and infrastructure projects.

Read the original article on Daba Finance.

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