The tragic sinking of a whaling boat on Thursday, August 8, on the Kasai River, near the village of Mangay in the Idiofa territory, caused the loss of three lives, including two children, as well as significant goods. The details provided by the Nouvelle société civile territoriale once again raise the crucial question of the safety of river transport in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the coordinator of the Nouvelle société civile territoriale, Arsène Kasiama, the accident was caused by the overloading of the wrecked whaling boat. Indeed, this boat was excessively loaded with agricultural products such as palm oil, corn and cans of traditional alcoholic beverages. This common practice of overloading is unfortunately frequent on Congolese rivers, endangering the lives of passengers as well as the safety of the goods transported.
The bitter observation made by Arsène Kasiama points out not only the overloading of the whalers, but also the laxity of the authorities responsible for regulating river transport. Indeed, it is regrettable to note that despite the presence of sailors supposed to supervise these boats, basic safety standards are not respected. The tragedy that occurred on the Kasai River is evidence of this systemic failure that endangers the lives of citizens and compromises the smooth running of economic activities.
This alarming news raises the question of the State’s responsibility in the supervision and regulation of river transport in the DRC. It is imperative that strict measures be taken to guarantee the safety of passengers and goods transported on the country’s waterways. Raising awareness among the stakeholders involved, implementing more rigorous controls and implementing dissuasive sanctions in the event of non-compliance with safety rules seem to be essential actions to avoid such tragedies in the future.
In conclusion, the sinking of the whaler on the Kasai River is a tragedy that could have been avoided. It is time for the competent authorities to take concrete measures to guarantee the safety of river transport in the DRC and prevent new tragedies. The lives of citizens must not be put at risk by dangerous and irresponsible practices.