### Management of road infrastructure in North Kivu: challenges and perspectives
On May 19, 2025, an important meeting was held in Beni, bringing together key players around the governor of North Kivu, General Evariste Kakule Somo. This exchange highlighted the current road situation, essential not only for the economic development of the province, but also for the daily life of its inhabitants. Through a rigorous self-assessment, the participants sought to identify the failures of the infrastructure and to offer lasting solutions.
### The importance of road infrastructure
The roads are often described as “veins” of a country, because they allow the transport of goods and people, thus facilitating economic exchanges. In North Kivu, where humanitarian and security issues are closely mixed, the state of road infrastructure is of crucial importance. The province was the scene of tensions and conflicts, making roads all the more delicate. Infrastructures in good condition are not only guaranteeing economic development, but also access to basic services such as education and health.
#### A shared diagnosis
During this meeting, General Kakule called to face the reality of the state of the roads and criticized the superficial solutions that do not attack the profound causes of problems. His request for a deeper approach made it possible to start a constructive dialogue between the actors present. An honest self-assessment is essential to understand not only current impairments, but also the responsibilities shared between the various actors: government, construction companies, and civil society.
Paulin Makasi, representing the company Bec Sarl, said that this meeting had enlightened certain dysfunctions, including the need to redirect the revenues collected on the roads currently maintained by the Indian company Dott Services. This point raises the question of financial transparency and the effectiveness of the structures in place to manage these resources. How to guarantee that these funds be used optimally for the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure?
#### The responsibility of the actors
Road users have also recalled their contractual obligations to the attributors. This dynamic evokes a need for collective appropriation of infrastructure management. This is not only a question of transmission of responsibilities, but also of the creation of a common conscience on the importance of regular interview and listening to the needs of users.
However, this raises the question of the supervision and supervision of companies which are responsible for the maintenance of infrastructure. What normative framework should it be set up to ensure that they respect their commitments and that the quality of the services offered is up to expectations?
#### Prospects for the future
The recommendations made during the meeting, in particular the reorientation of revenues and the call for participatory management of infrastructure, open promising tracks. A management model that combines the various players could not only improve the current state of roads, but also restore confidence between the provincial government and citizens.
It is also fundamental to consider technological solutions for road maintenance, whether innovations in building materials or infrastructure surveillance and management systems. Such an approach could make North Kivu an example of sustainability in infrastructure management in a difficult context.
#### Conclusion
The May 19 meeting in Beni is only a first step towards a more successful resolution of the issues related to road infrastructure in North Kivu. By attacking both symptoms and deep causes, and promoting a participatory approach, actors can hope to improve not only the state of roads, but also strengthen social cohesion. In this way, the development of the province could finally be part of a positive dynamic, beneficial for all its inhabitants. The road is still long, but it now seems to be punctuated by avenues for reflection and concrete actions.