DRC: nearly three million USD granted to modernize waterways

Kinshasa, August 30^th, 2026 (CPA).- A memorandum of understanding aimed to strengthen the development of waterways in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), funded to the tune of USD 2.4 million, has been signed on Friday in Kinshasa between the Waterways Authority (RVF) and the Economic Regulation Fund (Forec), it is learned on Saturday from the Ministry in charge of the National Economy. “The General Director of the Inland Waterways Authority (RVF), Daniel Lwaboshi, and the Executive Secretary of the Economic Regulation Fund (Forec), Jean-Paul Nemoyato, have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning a major waterway development project in the South Ubangi and Kasai basins, funded to the tune of USD 2.4 million,” it is read. According to the source, this agreement provides the completion of works involving navigation marking, dredging, clearing and tree pruning, supported by hydrological and hydrographic studies. These interventions aim to ensure safe navigation, open up the production basins and strengthen connectivity between the various territories of DRC, the document has reported. To this end, the General Director of the RVF, Mr. Lwaboshi, has emphasized the strategic importance of this funding, which will enable work to be carried out on several key routes. ‘The works will focus in particular on the Congo River, between Kinshasa and Kwamouth, over a distance of 193.5 km, and between Kwamouth and Liranga, over 406 km. They will also cover the Ubangi River, between Liranga and Dongo, over 365 km; the Lua River, between Dongo and Mogalo, over 142 km; the Kasai River, between Kwamouth and Ilebo, over a distance of 605 km; the Sankuru River, between Bena-Bendi and Lusambo, over a distance of 464.5 km; and the Lubi River, between Lusambo and Ndombe, over a distance of 131.5 km,” he has explained. For the RVF’s senior management, this agreement represents a major step forward in the government’s commitment to making waterways safer and more operational. Its implementation will also help to facilitate the transport of agricultural produce and ensure a regular supply of essential goods to Kinshasa and other major consumer centres. Mr. Lwaboshi has, further, indicated that the programme for the development and maintenance of waterways is in line with FOREC’s mission, which focuses on supporting public supply policies, developing economic infrastructure and facilitating trade. For his part, FOREC’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Nemoyato, has welcomed this decisive step, whilst reaffirming his institution’s commitment to support the project’s implementation. “Funded by FOREC to the tune of USD 2,423,310, this project specifically aims to open up the production basins of Sud-Ubangi and the Kasai region, significantly reduce transport times and costs, and secure food supplies to major consumer centres,” he has declared. Through this partnership, the RVF and Forec are giving concrete expression to the government’s commitment to secure waterways, stimulate trade and make the river network a driver of economic development. DRC’s river and lake network extends over more than 15,000 kilometres of navigable waterways, forming the main backbone of domestic transport in a country lacking a continuous national road network.