### Kinshasa at a crossroads: the unfinished promise of river taxis
Governor Daniel Bumba recently announced the imminent river taxis to improve mobility in Kinshasa. An attractive initiative at first glance, but which raises a certain number of questions on the feasibility of this project and on the confidence, more and more eroded, of the Kinois towards their leaders. Beyond the announcement, the time is for critical analysis of the historical challenges linked to river transport projects in the Congolese capital.
### A city in chaos: lighting on urban mobility
Kinshasa, with its more than 10 million inhabitants, has faced for years with a problem of urban mobility which paralyzes the daily life of its citizens. The monster traffic jams, the fruit of an almost unusable road infrastructure, have become a sad routine. In addition to the considerable economic losses due to congestion, the increased saturation of roads also represents a threat to public health, exacerbated by exhaust gas emissions.
The use of the Congo River for Urban Transport is not a trivial option. It is a strategic asset, offering a viable and potentially less costly alternative compared to land transport. However, the promises of similar projects have often led to disillusions. The current disenchantment of Kinois is not only the result of ineffective management, but of a vicious circle where the inaction of the rulers nourishes the distrust of citizens.
### The spectrum of unwarmed promises
The opposition between optimism displayed by the governor and popular weariness is palpable. “This reveals a systemic problem,” said Hugues Mbela, a resident of “yellow earth”. Indeed, public management in Kinshasa is marred by a revealing history. Project failures such as the “Okende Plan” as well as the stopping of the necessary tags are symptomatic of clumsy management and a lack of coordination between the different levels of the State.
The multiple eximing of unique commitments and the delays in the financing of the Régie des lanes (RVF) are catastrophic. The 1 billion Congolese francs allocated to the finishing works of the beaconers represent only a small fraction of a necessary modernization of the infrastructure, while the control process of 20-taxi-fluvials in Türkiye seems to have sunk in the dark.
### River dynamics: a classification at half mast
Compared to other African capitals, such as Lagos which has managed to develop a functional river transport system, Kinshasa remains lagging behind. By analyzing river transport statistics in Africa, we see that cities with a developed river infrastructure saw their economy prosper, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. For example, the city of Lagos took the lead by investing in a network of boats serving the coastal areas, thus reducing dependence on overloaded road transport.
### Sustainable solution or temporary mirage?
The question that arises is how Kinshasa can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. The implementation of a more responsible governance framework and financial transparency could make it possible to restore the confidence of the Kinois. A collaboration with river transport experts and private actors could also prove to be fruitful for the implementation of initiatives that do not only hold a place of promises.
It is essential to recall that the Congo river is a precious resource that is just waiting to be exploited. River taxi projects could not only unclutter the roads, but offer employment prospects in the construction, operation and maintenance of this new infrastructure. The development of floating quays and the establishment of associated services, such as cafes and ticket offices, could also cause an economic dynamic while renewing the urban landscape.
### to a more responsible future
While the Kinois are impatiently awaiting the culmination of river taxis, it is essential to remember the need for concerted and consistent action to make the advanced promises. From now on, the challenge no longer lies only in the promise of a river taxi service, but in the real desire to transform Kinshasa into a modern and functional capital, where mobility will not be a luxury, but a right accessible to all. People’s confidence will be the real barometer of the success of this project, and it is imperative that political actors take this lesson at heart to avoid drowning once again the future of the city under the waters of inertia and despair.
In the end, the promise of river taxis in Kinshasa must be seen as a starting point, not as a redemption. To be honored, the governance of the capital must be redesigned, because the river is more than a simple path: it is the pulse and the potential of a city in search of renewal.