Bunia, August 4th, 2025 (CPA).- Transport operators’ concerns about the dilapidated state of the Mbogu bridge on the Bunia-Kasenyi road in Ituri province, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were expressed on Monday by an association in that part of the country during an interview.
‘We are deeply concerned about the deterioration of the Mbogu Bridge, which is an essential link in this vital road axis. Its poor condition endangers the safety of users, compromises traffic flow and hinders the economic development of the region,’ has said Serge Mbidjo, president of the Association of Transporters and Shippers of Congo (ATCC). According to him, this bridge plays a key role in the transport of people, fish from various lake regions, as well as basic necessities and other categories of goods from neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
He also pointed out that the deterioration of the Mbogu bridge has already caused several large trucks and other vehicles to become stuck, leading to significant delays, additional costs for transporters and an increased risk of accidents. ‘Every day, hundreds of vehicles use this bridge. Without urgent intervention, we risk a total disruption of this vital route,’ he has warned. Serge Mbidjo Ngona also insisted on the rehabilitation or reconstruction of the Mbogu bridge to ensure sustainable development in Ituri. ‘A solid bridge would not only improve road safety, but also encourage private investment, facilitate access to social services and strengthen cohesion between the different localities served by this road,’ he has explained.
The ATCC president also called on the provincial authorities, through their technical partners, to recognise the urgency of this infrastructure issue in order to avoid a major crisis in the transport sector. He also recommended that the provincial government rehabilitate or rebuild the Madje bridges, located under the Mont-Bleu mountain ranges, as well as the Sona bridge at the entrance to Kasenyi centre, which are also in poor condition. The Bunia-Kasenyi road is favoured by economic operators for several reasons: the affordable cost of transporting goods from Uganda and Kenya via Lake Albert, the speed of traffic and the relative safety compared to the RN 27, where the security situation remains unstable.