Shipwrecks on the Congo River: an urgent reminder of the need to ensure the safety of river transport
In the aftermath of the tragic shipwreck which claimed the lives of at least 40 people off the coast of the city of Mbandaka, the vice-governor of Ecuador, Taylor Nganzi, requested help from the national executive to deal with this disaster. While on his way to Bankita port, the scene of the tragedy, Taylor Nganzi expressed his need to assist survivors who lost everything in the shipwreck and facilitate their return to Bolomba, their place of origin.
The provincial government of Equateur is also committed to providing psychological support to children injured and who lost their parents during this tragedy. Coffins and body bags were given to Humanitarian Actions agents, in collaboration with the Red Cross, to ensure a dignified burial of the victims. In order to find other possible bodies of the shipwrecked, motorized canoes were mobilized to continue search operations on the Congo River.
It is also planned to continue the identification of survivors and families of victims in order to return the property that was recovered from the waters. Alongside these measures, the vice-governor of Ecuador is committed to establishing responsibilities and punishing those responsible for this tragedy.
This tragic shipwreck once again raises the question of the safety of river transport on the Congo River. The President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, has expressed his desire to use the Congo River and rivers as essential transport routes to cover the entire national territory. During the council of ministers, he stressed the need to take measures to avoid shipwrecks, which are often caused by overloading boats, poor marking of waterways, night navigation and non-compliance with regulations in maritime safety matters.
Faced with this situation, the Head of State instructed the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, the Deputy Prime Minister of Defense and the Minister of Transport to develop an action plan aimed at strengthening security river transport on the Congo River. It is essential to make the Congo River a driver of economic development and to define solid strategies to guarantee the safety of people and goods transported.
Beyond this tragedy, it is crucial to put in place lasting measures to ensure the safety of river transport on the Congo River. This requires the implementation of strict regulations, the strengthening of controls and inspections, as well as raising awareness among river transport stakeholders of good safety practices.. The authorities must also invest in the infrastructure and means necessary to guarantee the reliability and safety of boats navigating the Congo River.
In conclusion, the shipwrecks on the Congo River remind us of the urgency of taking concrete measures to ensure the safety of river transport. It is essential to put in place appropriate regulations, invest in infrastructure and raise awareness among all stakeholders in river transport of the paramount importance of safety. The Congo River, as a major transport route, must contribute to the economic development of the country while guaranteeing the safety of all those who use it.