A road network under reconstruction
The minister recalled that President Félix Tshisekedi inherited 3,000 km of paved roads and that works are underway on 8,000 km across the national territory. The recovered network comprises 135,800 km, he specified, with the objective being to rebuild a structuring internal corridor of 22,000 km.
Among the axes presented as likely to interest Belgian partners, the RN1, which links Moanda to Sakania over 3,300 km, is nearing completion with 400 km remaining. The RN2 is to connect Mbuji-Mayi to Bukavu, while the RN16, 500 km long, will link Kongo Central to Kwango. The government also plans to launch the RN7, a 1,200 km stretch between Kananga and Kisangani, with an extension Kisangani-Beni and the Goma-Bukavu link, as well as the RN6.
Navigable waterways, ports and airports
Beyond asphalt, John Banza Lunda mentioned the 28,000 km of navigable waterways that are to undergo systematic dredging, the construction of the deep-water port of Banana and the Moanda-Kinshasa road. In air transport, ongoing works at N’Djili airport in Kinshasa and Luano in Lubumbashi are to be functional next year, and those at Kananga are continuing. A program of 15 new airports will be launched in the coming days, he announced.
Congolese standards with Belgian support
On the urban front, the minister announced the modernization of roads, notably in Bunia, the construction of 7 tramway lines in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi by Belgian partners, including the commissioning of the first line planned for next year, as well as the development of the south-east and south-west bypass roads of Kinshasa for next year. Added to these are the construction of the University of Mbuji-Mayi and 12 other universities across the country.
According to him, the greatest reform remains the development of Congolese standards with the assistance of Belgian expertise. He recalled that the concrete model adapted to the Equateur regions is Belgian and announced an upcoming working session with the Belgian Road Research Centre.
ACP – M&B
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