Kinshasa, April 9th, 2025 (CPA) – Those affected by flooding caused by torrential rains in the city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been urged to hold firm despite the current difficulties, according to a press release consulted by CPA on Wednesday. “To the resilient population of Kinshasa in general and those of the victimized riverside areas in particular, I urge you to hold firm despite the current difficulties,” read a statement signed by Annie Mbuguje, elected senator for Kinshasa. “The heavy rains that fell during the night of April 4th to 5th, 2025 have plunged the people of Kinshasa in general, and those of the Tshangu district and Mont-Ngafula commune in particular, into turmoil and enormous uncertainty”, she added.
She recalled that the city of Kinshasa had been visibly cut in two by the flooding of the Lukaya and Nd’jili rivers, causing both flooding with disastrous consequences and the usual slowdown in the movement of people and goods. Faced with this natural disaster, the elected representative of Kinshasa advocated not only the development of an appropriate land-use plan, but also a comprehensive waste disposal plan. She also proposed a realistic plan for draining and cleaning rivers and other watercourses, with the aim of tackling the root causes of these dramatic situations.
“We also need to rethink the city’s development plan, implement a policy to relocate people who have built on riverbeds, carefully monitor Metelsat’s meteorological and rainfall forecasts and, above all, set up a mechanism to provide assistance to disaster victims who might be able to ease their pain,” she said.