The alarming situation of the landlocked territory of Shabunda, in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raises major concerns about the living conditions of the local population. Indeed, the civil society of Shabunda recently expressed its deep dismay at the lack of passable roads in this vast region of more than 25,000 km2.
The landlocked nature of Shabunda has a direct impact on access to basic necessities for residents. In the absence of accessible land routes, air transport has become the only means of transporting goods from the city of Bukavu to Shabunda. This dependence on air transport leads to a significant increase in transport costs, which is reflected in the prices of food and everyday consumer goods. Thus, products as essential as cement, salt, sugar or even a simple bottle of beer see their prices reach prohibitive levels for the local population.
Faced with this untenable situation, Shabunda civil society is calling on the Congolese authorities to take rapid measures to rehabilitate the region’s road infrastructure. The president of Shabunda civil society, Mr. Isaac Kilunga, stressed the urgency of intervening to alleviate the distress of the inhabitants, forced to suffer the consequences of this isolation on a daily basis.
The alarm sounded by Shabunda civil society highlights the urgent need to implement sustainable solutions to remedy this situation. Indeed, the deplorable state of the roads constitutes a major obstacle to the economic and social development of the region. Without reliable communication routes, it is impossible to imagine economic growth and an improvement in living conditions for the population of Shabunda.
It is therefore essential that the Congolese authorities become aware of the urgency of the situation and implement concrete projects to open up the Shabunda territory. Investing in road construction and maintenance is not only a humanitarian imperative, but also a sine qua non condition for promoting the development and well-being of the inhabitants of this deprived region.
In conclusion, the isolation of Shabunda is a major challenge that requires a concerted and immediate response. Only coordinated action by local, provincial and national authorities will make it possible to free the population of Shabunda from this unacceptable isolation. It is time to move from awareness to action, to offer a better future to those who suffer in the shadow of isolation.