Images of heavy goods vehicles stuck on National Road No. 4 in Ituri
The captivating images of heavy goods vehicles stuck on National Road No. 4 in Ituri remind us of the logistical challenges encountered on our roads, highlighting the crucial importance of reliable road infrastructure for the proper functioning of a region’s economy. More than one hundred vehicles, mainly from the cities of Kisangani, Bunia, Beni and Butembo, have been stranded for nearly ten days on the Komanda-Mungamba section, which is over 25 kilometres long and lies west of the centre of Komanda.
Testimonies from road users highlight the advanced state of disrepair of the section of the road near the towns of Takumanza and Mungamba, in the Walese-Vonkutu chiefdom. The precarious conditions of the road represent a threat to the safety of people and property, accentuated by the context of persistent insecurity in the region. The lack of rapid response from local and central authorities to this alarming situation raises questions about the management of road infrastructure in Ituri province.
The intervention of the ONGD-H Comité associatif résolute pour la défense des droits de l’homme (COARDHO) highlights the heavy silence of both provincial and central governments in the face of calls for help from road users. Alphonse Muthephare, a human rights activist, warns of the potential dangers faced by drivers and goods immobilized along this degraded section of road.
In a similar context, the territory of Mambasa, also located in Ituri, faces similar challenges with the parking of more than 500 vehicles on the Mambasa-Kisangani axis, due to the deplorable state of the road, aggravated by heavy seasonal rains. These situations reveal the urgency of investing in the rehabilitation and maintenance of road infrastructure to ensure the mobility of people and goods, as well as to support the socio-economic development of the affected regions.
In conclusion, the striking images of the stranded heavy goods vehicles in Ituri serve as a warning of the harmful consequences of inadequate road infrastructure on the daily lives of populations and on the regional economy. It is imperative that the public authorities take urgent measures to remedy this critical situation and ensure the safety and fluidity of road transport in Ituri province.