Africell has been announced as Naming Right Sponsor of the inaugural Congo River Marathon 2021.

The first edition will be happening on the weekend of August 28-29, 2021 including different races from Full Marathon of 42 km, to Half Marathon of 21 km, to the 10 km Fun Run. Running through the humid tropical climate of the city of Kinshasa, the marathon route will give local and international competitors an unforgettable experience of running through the vibrant city of Kin La Belle and absorbing the beautiful scenery which defines the south bank of the Congo River. Aiming to establish this event as the biggest annual sports event where people from all around the world will gather as one community, the marathon will make running a collective experience and creating a more health-conscious society in DRC and beyond. The Africell Congo River Marathon will “pay it forward” by providing much-needed funding for charities in the fields of education, health and environment in Congo.

"Our partnership with Africell, the network of the people, is aligned with our entrepreneurial spirit and our mission to bring together people through running. The great support Africell has given, enables us to enhance the race experience for everyone who takes part in the first edition of Congo River Marathon from first time runners to world class athletes. Having Bracongo as Diamond Sponsor on board with their long history as Congolese beverage brand and their energy drinks XXL Energy and XXL Energy Malt allows us to make this first edition an unforgettable experience. Greater things can only be accomplished together“ says Rolly Kitambala Kayumba, race organizer and CEO of Endurance Sports Industry Sarl.

“Africell is excited to join with Endurance Sports Industry to launch the inaugural Africell Congo River Marathon. The marathon will boost Congo’s burgeoning health and fitness community and gives local and international athletes the opportunity to take part in a meaningful competition in the Congo. As a mobile network operator, Africell’s goal is to enable a better lifestyle for consumers in the DRC, and outdoor exercise is a vital part of this”, says Milad Kahirallah, CEO of Africell DRC. “Africell invites people of all abilities and levels of experience to participate in the Africell Congo River Marathon. The spirit of fun, camaraderie and community that it will foster will be a positive antidote to the challenges faced in DRC over the past eighteen months and we hope the marathon will set a good example to Congolese youth, for whom sport and exercise are increasingly important activities.”

Africell Group will soon be launching a series of other marathons in our other African operating markets (including Sierra Leone and The Gambia), and the Africell Congo River Marathon is expected to take pride of place among them.

Jules Bolobe, Director of Marketing Bracongo says: “Bracongo is happy to accompany this 2021 edition of the Congo River Marathon with XXL Energy and XXL Energy Malt to give energy to the professional and amateur athletes who will participate. We encourage all Kinshasa residents to participate in what will surely be a great experience on Sunday August 29.”

Sports representative from the Mayor Office of Gombe, Kinshasa Bruno Baziota states “The Municipality of Gombe salutes the 1st Congo River Marathon on its soil and invites the people of Kinshasa to participate in it”.

For more information and to register for upcoming races, visit the Africell Congo River Marathon website.