Fatshimétrie: Crossing the Congo River made difficult on the RN2, users waiting for a solution
For several days, users of the national road number 2 (RN2) have been facing a very worrying situation on the Samba-Kasongo section, located in the south of the Maniema province. Indeed, the sector chief of Basonge 2 Mweho deplored last Thursday, November 21, the ordeal experienced by travelers, a direct consequence of the breakdown of the ferry of the Roads Office that ensures the crossing of the Congo River.
Lumbule Amisi, the sector chief of Basonge 2 Mweho, described the difficulties encountered by users of this essential road. “We are living an ordeal. The difficulties are numerous and the greatest is that of the crossing. You have just noticed that since the ferry has been under water at Mulenda, the crossing has become a headache. People, economic operators are having a lot of difficulty ensuring the crossing of their vehicles here at the central beach of Kasongo rive”, he expressed with a hint of dismay.
The situation has worsened due to the lack of a concrete response from the authorities, despite calls for help launched to the Roads Office and donors. Users of the RN2, prisoners on both banks of the Congo River, are impatiently waiting for a viable solution to be found to this problem which greatly impacts the fluidity of economic and human exchanges in the region.
To overcome this situation, economic operators are doing as best they can by using three motorized pirogues to ensure the crossing of vehicles, people and goods. However, this alternative is not without cost, since it is estimated that it would take at least 50 million Congolese francs (approximately 17,650 USD) to acquire these three pirogues, or approximately 8 million Congolese francs per pirogue.
Faced with this reality, it becomes imperative that the government, whether national or provincial, becomes aware of the urgency of intervening to help the population affected by this worrying situation. Setting up a new operational ferry, allocating funds for the acquisition of the necessary pirogues, all initiatives must be explored to ensure the continuity of trade and the mobility of populations on this major road axis.
In the meantime, users of the RN2 continue to demonstrate resourcefulness and resilience to ensure their crossing of the Congo River, while waiting for a lasting and effective solution to put an end to this daily ordealThe current situation on this Samba-Kasongo section demonstrates once again the need to invest in road infrastructure and means of transport to guarantee the harmonious development of this region of Maniema and to strengthen trade with other provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.