Fatshimetrie
For several days, the city of Kisangani has been shaken by a surge in fuel prices that directly impacts their daily lives. Indeed, the inhabitants of the capital of the province of Tshopo have seen gasoline prices increase significantly, going from 3500 to 4000 FC for a liter to prices ranging from 6000 to 7000 FC at local resellers nicknamed “Kadhafi”. The pumps display prices between 4300 and 4500 FC per liter. An increase that weighs heavily on the budget of households, already weakened by the economic difficulties encountered in the region.
This price increase is directly linked to the advanced state of disrepair of national road number 4, thus creating a disruption in fuel supply. Tanker trucks from Ituri or North Kivu are stuck, unable to reach Kisangani due to the dire conditions of this essential communication route. This situation highlights the logistical challenges facing the region, impacting not only the fuel supply but also other aspects of the daily lives of residents.
Faced with this shortage, petrol stations are forced to limit the sale of fuel, favouring some customers over others. Motorcycle taxis, for example, are facing drastic restrictions on the quantity of petrol that can be purchased, which is causing tensions among the population. This situation highlights existing social inequalities and raises questions about the management of resources and infrastructure in the region.
At the same time, the increase in the price of fuel has a direct impact on the cost of public transport, making travel more expensive for residents. Fares are increasing, forcing users to pay more to travel from one point to another in the city. These rising transport costs are exacerbating the economic precariousness of many families, limiting their ability to travel and access essential services.
Faced with this situation, it is essential that local authorities take urgent measures to resolve the fuel supply problem and improve the state of road infrastructure. Ensuring equitable access to essential resources for the entire population is essential to fostering the economic and social development of the region. Now is the time to act to overcome these challenges and ensure a better future for the people of Kisangani and Tshopo province as a whole.
This fuel crisis reveals the fragilities of a failing logistics system and highlights the direct consequences of the lack of investment in infrastructureIt is time to act to get Kisangani out of this impasse and offer its inhabitants the decent living conditions to which they aspire.