### Kinshasa: Reconfiguration of public transport or highlighting an obsolete system?
**Introduction**
At the beginning of 2025, the issue of public transport in Kinshasa is experiencing a dramatic turning point. The city government recently rolled out a new fare scale, established by Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki, with the aim of regulating excessive prices charged by bus, minibus and taxi-bus drivers. However, compliance with this regulation seems to be barely emerging, giving way to disillusionment among users. Here is an opportunity to dissect this situation from a new angle and take a critical look not only at recent events but also at the foundations of urban transport in Kinshasa.
**Futile Coercive Measures?**
The challenge to prevailing fares, often set according to market fluctuations and urban geopolitics, illustrates the state’s attempt to mask systemic problems with ad hoc measures. Drivers, already subject to several constraints—degraded roads, time lost in traffic jams, and high operating costs—see these new regulations as an additional burden on an already unbearable economic burden. In this context, the government’s proposed punishment, ranging from $50 to $200 for violations, appears to be a superficial solution to a much more complex reality.
The use of law enforcement officers to oversee compliance with this new law also shows institutional weakness. Rather than serving as a means of regulation, the police presence seems to encourage collusion, particularly when members of the security forces get involved in price setting, adding a layer of impunity to an already flawed system. The statistics of violence and clashes, illustrated by the tragic events of January 9, bear damning testimony to the consequences of this spiral of despair.
**The Roots of a Dysfunctional System**
To analyze this crisis more deeply, it is pertinent to explore the systemic roots of Kinshasa’s transport problems. The public transport sector, largely driven by private operators, is one of the many aspects of a territory where the State struggles to fulfill its functions. Indeed, road infrastructure is in a catastrophic state, with often impassable streets that undermine the effectiveness of any transport system. According to a recent study, some 60% of roads in Kinshasa are in poor condition, directly affecting the ability of vehicles to circulate smoothly.
Furthermore, urban planning in the capital has historically been influenced by flawed governance practices. The lack of a real regulatory framework and transport development policies has left the field open to opportunistic behaviors, both on the part of drivers and loaders, creating a crippling informal economy. This two-speed transport system is reinforced by a growing population, often forced to take increasingly long journeys, reinforcing the idea that chaos is never anything but an alternative to the absence of government.
**A quest for innovative alternatives**
Beyond the alarming situation of public transport, it is imperative to accept that Kinshasa faces challenges that other metropolises have already successfully addressed. The rise of alternative transport solutions, such as carpooling, the use of digital platforms for transport management or even high-level tram and bus systems, are avenues that the city could explore.
Tactical urban planning initiatives, which consist of implementing small-scale projects, could make it possible to introduce immediate and beneficial changes in public spaces to improve traffic flow. Effective consultation between the State, drivers, loaders and users could also give rise to a participatory transport model, where the interests of each stakeholder are valued and integrated.
**Conclusion**
The current public transport crisis in Kinshasa represents an opportunity not only to question existing methods of regulation but above all to rethink urban mobility as a whole. It is becoming crucial to move from repressive measures and symbolic displays to an integrated approach that aims to build sustainable infrastructure and to give back to the inhabitants of Kinshasa a fundamental right: that of moving safely and at a reasonable cost. The resilience of the Kinois deserves support other than regulatory tinkering. It is time for Kinshasa to take the necessary turn towards modernizing its transport network.