“Consequences of the deterioration of the RN4 road on the Kisangani market”
The continued deterioration of the national road number 4 (RN4) has had disastrous consequences on the market of Kisangani, the capital of the province of Tshopo. For some time now, food prices have increased significantly, causing difficulties for both truckers and local traders. This situation is the result of a combination of factors, the main one being the inability of goods to reach their final destination due to the quagmires that form on the road, made impassable by torrential rains.
Trucks loaded with various food products remain stuck for days, even weeks, immobilized in the mud that has invaded the RN4, between Kisangani and Beni. This situation leads to rotting of cargoes, particularly beans, onions and garlic, due to the lack of adequate storage conditions. Truckers, powerless in the face of this fate, see their goods deteriorate day after day, causing significant financial losses.
The few trucks that manage to reach the Kisangani market can only unload a tiny portion of their still edible goods. Local traders, faced with decomposing products and considerable losses, are forced to increase prices in an attempt to recover part of their investment. Thus, the cost of certain food products has more than quadrupled, placing consumers in a precarious situation.
Faced with this crisis, truckers and traders are calling on the government to speed up the asphalting process of the RN4, a promise made but which has remained a dead letter to this day. The absence of a passable road seriously compromises the supply of cities and worsens the precariousness of citizens, already affected by economic difficulties. It is urgent that concrete measures be taken to remedy this situation, which threatens the economic stability of the region.
In conclusion, the deterioration of the RN4 has disastrous repercussions on the Kisangani market, increasing the precariousness of citizens and jeopardizing the region’s food supply. It is imperative that the competent authorities act quickly to end this crisis and ensure smooth access to basic necessities.