**Fatshimétrie: A crucial bridge collapses, plunging the Haut-Uele province into a connectivity crisis**
The Embo bridge, a crucial infrastructure located on the National Road 25 (RN25) in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, suffered a dramatic collapse on December 20, 2024. This incident poses a major threat to the connectivity of the Haut-Uele province, jeopardizing the supply and economic activity of the region.
Governor Jean Bakomito has sounded the alarm over this critical situation, stressing that the province risks total isolation. This disaster comes after the recent collapse of the Bomokandi bridge, reinforcing the road infrastructure crisis in the region. The combination of these two events highlights the glaring gaps in the maintenance and development of transport infrastructure in these remote areas.
The consequences of these collapses are not limited to the simple disruption of road traffic. They also jeopardize the supply of essential goods, particularly from the neighboring provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. Governor Bakomito stressed that 40% of the materials needed to rehabilitate the Bomokandi Bridge are still blocked in Kinshasa, further delaying reconstruction operations.
It is clear that urgent measures are needed to restore traffic on these vital axes and avoid a humanitarian and economic crisis. Governor Bakomito launched an urgent appeal to the central government for rapid and effective intervention. He also stressed the crucial role of economic operators in preserving infrastructure by respecting the authorized loads to avoid any risk of collapse.
This new collapse of the Embo Bridge, which occurred only five years after its rehabilitation following a previous accident, highlights the vulnerability of local infrastructure to overloading and lack of maintenance. The Governor emphasizes the need for sustainable investments to modernize the province’s roads and bridges, which are essential to foster economic development and ensure population mobility.
In conclusion, the collapse of the Embo Bridge is a stark reminder of the urgent need to act to strengthen transport infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It highlights the challenges facing remote areas in terms of economic development and connectivity. Immediate and concerted action is essential to avoid a humanitarian crisis and ensure a prosperous future for all communities concerned.