As part of the development of infrastructure in the city of Kinshasa, a major event took place recently with the launch of construction work on the South-West and South-East ring roads. These ring roads, starting from Mitendi in the commune of Mont Ngafula, are intended to relieve congestion in the Congolese capital by connecting its South-West and South-East parts, thus offering an alternative to the dense and chaotic traffic which often characterizes the city.
This ambitious project marks the relaunch of the Sino-Congolese program under the presidency of Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. It demonstrates the authorities’ desire to modernize Kinshasa’s road infrastructure to improve the quality of life of residents and promote the economic development of the region.
During the work launch ceremony, several actors were saluted for their contribution to the realization of this major project. First of all, the Head of State himself was recognized for his leadership and strategic vision which allowed the revision of the initial agreement signed in 2008 between the DRC and the Group of Chinese Enterprises (GEC). This review resulted in a rebalancing of benefits for the country, increasing the planned infrastructure investment from US$3 billion to US$7 billion.
The General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) also played a crucial role in this review process, helping to identify and resolve the financial imbalances present in the 2008 convention. This collaboration between the IGF and the Congolese authorities made it possible to achieve a more advantageous agreement for the country, offering new prospects for infrastructure development and economic growth.
The Minister of State, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Alexis Gisaro, underlined the importance of this review and thanked President Tshisekedi for his commitment to the development of the DRC. For his part, the Director General of the Agency for Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements Signed between the DRC and Private Partners (APCSC), Freddy Yodi Shembo, expressed his gratitude to the Head of State for his determination in revisiting the agreement with the GEC.
In conclusion, the launch of work on the South-West and South-East ring roads of Kinshasa represents a major step forward for the Congolese capital. This project, the result of a fruitful collaboration between different actors, embodies a strong political desire to modernize the country’s infrastructure and promote its economic development. It also illustrates the Congolese government’s ability to renegotiate partnership agreements in a balanced and beneficial manner for the national interest.