Kinshasa, February 22nd; 2026 (ACP) – Urgent action is required to save the city of Kinshasa from recurrent flooding that spares no municipality or neighborhood of the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a megacity of more than 15 million inhabitants.
With every heavy rainfall, damage of all kinds is often considerable. Rising river levels follow, and even major arteries are affected to the extent that several of the city’s main roads become impassable. The consequence is a paralysis of activities in various sectors and significant economic losses for the urban economy.
“The rise in water levels observed in certain neighborhoods is linked to the non-compliance with urban planning and environmental standards,” according to Ms. Nathalie Alamba, mayor of the Limete municipality. The causes are multiple: uncontrolled construction, the lack of river dredging, and the dumping of waste into rivers and drainage channels, which aggravate the situation, she added.
In view of this worrying situation affecting Kinshasa’s future, it is imperative to act urgently to avert the worst during the upcoming rains forecast by the National Meteorological Agency (Mettelsat).
It is therefore evident that more rains will occur during this rainy season. Consequently, anticipation is essential in order to ensure protection. All stakeholders are concerned, particularly the public authorities. The population, for its part, must internalize civic responsibility, notably in environmental management. In recent times, it has become virtually impossible to travel by vehicle or motorcycle during and after rainfall on Kinshasa’s roads, which are frequently flooded and thus rendered impassable.
This situation disrupts traffic, causes congestion and endangers road users, who are often forced to walk long distances with their feet soaked in rainwater to reach their homes. These floods are observed throughout the entire city of Kinshasa.
Today, the Congolese capital is exposed to a serious risk of gradual disappearance if no sustainable action is taken. Once referred to as “Poto moyindo” (Black Europe), Kinshasa—formerly Léopoldville from 1881 to 1966—was the most beautiful city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At present, it no longer reflects its former image.
Several temporary measures undertaken by the provincial executive of Kinshasa, including the demolition of illegal constructions along rivers, river dredging and drainage cleaning, have yielded only mixed results. Faced with this thorny issue that has generated much debate, it is urgent for the Kinshasa provincial government to redouble its efforts by mobilizing financial and logistical resources capable of meeting the challenge.
It is also necessary for the provincial executive to complete the various road sanitation works currently under construction, designed to collect, channel and evacuate rainwater and runoff in order to protect road infrastructure.