This initiative will benefit over 19 million people by facilitating access to markets, improving the availability of agricultural products and food security, and supporting mobility and economic activities
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 30, 2025/APO Group/ --
Roads in Kenge, Kikwit, Tshikapa, Kamuensha, and Mbuji-Mayi have been completely rehabilitated, new stretches of road built, and urban roads modernized. Numerous examples of socioeconomic infrastructure have also benefited from the financial support of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org), helping to transform the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of Congolese.

The Mayi Nunene health centre was built as part of the project to strengthen socioeconomic infrastructure in central DRC

View of the RN1 section at Batshamba
A multi-sectoral mission from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the African Development Bank witnessed the impact of these investments during field visits to the five municipalities in western DRC between 5 and 19 May 2025. More specifically, the three projects, financed by the Bank, focus on rehabilitating road infrastructure, enhancing air safety, and improving access to basic social services.
Health centres, hydraulic structures equipped with modern technology, provincial rural markets, schools, a refurbished runway in Mbuji-Mayi, and air safety equipment meeting international standards are just some of the successes the joint mission was able to witness.
"The mission measured the concrete impact of the projects supported by the Bank in Kasai. From roads to social infrastructure and air safety, progress is visible and is transforming the lives of the population. We pay tribute to the work completed and remain committed to consolidating the gains achieved, in particular with the extension of the Mbuji-Mayi runway to make it a hub that meets international standards," commented Mohamed Coulibaly, Country Programme Manager in charge of the Bank Group's Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Opening a key route in the road network
The first stage of the mission concerned the project to rehabilitate the Kinshasa/Ndjili-Batshamba section of national road no. 1. The project involves the rehabilitation of 622 kilometres of road between Kinshasa and Batshamba via Kenge and Kikwit, a key route in the Congolese road network. In the past, this strategic corridor was virtually impassable due to the advanced deterioration of the road surface and a series of sinkholes, and took several days or in some cases weeks, to drive along. Thanks to $68.57 million in funding from the African Development Bank, the work carried out now means the route can be travelled safely in less than a day. This improves connectivity between the capital and the provinces of Mai-Ndombe, Kwango, Kwilu and Kasaï.
"In addition to asphalting the road, the Bank has financed the construction and equipping of schools, health centres, boreholes, rural markets, social reintegration centres, administrative buildings, a modern market and weigh stations along the route, as well as the rehabilitation of over 700 kilometres of rural roads," explains Jean Luemba, the RN1 project coordinator. The Bank has also provided substantial logistical support (vehicles and IT equipment) to the state structures involved in the projects.
Ultimately, this initiative will benefit over 19 million people by facilitating access to markets, improving the availability of agricultural products and food security, and supporting mobility and economic activities.
Significant progress in social infrastructure
In terms of social infrastructure, the achievements of the second phase of the Project for the Reinforcement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in the Central Region (PRISE II) are significant: most of the construction work on schools, health centres, public latrines, and rural markets has been completed or is nearing completion. The execution rate is estimated at 75%. As for the 41 schools under construction, most are ready for handover. The same applies to the 40 health centres, whose buildings have been completed. Public markets are also making good progress, with several structures already operational.
In addition, the project has planned community awareness-raising and vocational training activities, including training young people in plumbing, promoting hygiene and local water governance. During the joint mission, the national authorities reiterated their willingness to broaden the scope of the "PRISE" project by integrating geophysical studies into the Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, thus supporting the national ambition of universal coverage in this area. The project's aim is to reach over 870,000 direct beneficiaries in 10 provinces, by improving access rates to water, sanitation, health and education.
Advanced airport infrastructure
In the air transport sector, a visit to the second phase of the Priority Air Safety Project (PPSA2) revealed remarkable progress in the rehabilitation and extension of the Mbuji-Mayi runway. Around 85% of the 320-metre runway has already been completed. The new tarmac is 95% complete, while the ramp, service road and runway end safety areas (RESA) are 70 to 75% complete. Vital technical infrastructure such as the control tower, power plant, fire station, and lighting system are nearing completion. At Kisangani-Bangoka international airport, the aircraft movement areas, taxiways and tarmac have been completely rehabilitated, and two turn pads have been installed.
In addition, six radio navigation systems (DVOR/DME) have been deployed at Goma, Mbuji-Mayi, Kindu, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Mbandaka, enhancing the safety of domestic flights. Eight VHF radio channels have also been installed at several secondary airports to improve aeronautical communication. The upgrading of equipment, combined with capacity-building for technical staff, has reduced the number of air accidents in the DRC from an average of 10 to one a year.
The project also includes training for the Régie des voies aériennes staff in the following areas: safety and air bases, maintenance techniques and project management for the Régie, and air transport inspectors for the Civil Aviation Authority.
At the end of the visit, the mission underlined the technical quality of the work carried out, the commitment of the contractors and local ownership. In Tshikapa, a local resident declared: "Tshikapa today is the African Development Bank!", testifying to the visibility and tangible impact of the projects on the daily lives of the local population.
These results also illustrate the importance of close coordination between the Bank, the Congolese government and technical and financial partners, including the European Union and the World Bank, which were also involved in the construction of certain sections of the RN1.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
the hell with you shabab we will defeat you
alla ha u naxariistee
I will advice Somaliland people NOT to put their guards down at anytime. Because you do not know who is the enemy within.
Long live Somaliland and it;s people. Amiin ya Allah!
This is the reality, its clear to us all, instead of concentrating on qabil and divisions there is bigger threat than that, its one with a global agenda and the threat comes from abroad but using inner resources and people. Our youth have been brain washed if those in Somalia were brain washed what makes you think the ones in Somaliland, Djibouti, Kenya or Ethiopia are safe from it? There are already reports hundreds of youth from Kenya's NFD region, Somaliland and dozens from Djibouti are in the Al Shabab terrorism group.
Dozens of young and impressionable men are suddenly disappearing from Canada and the United States without the parents' knowledge or approval. And the parents are helpless and don't know how to find them or who is responsible for their disappearance. Rumour has it that they are brain-washed and recruited by terrorist groups. Last month six Somaliland-Canadians suddenly disappeared from a mosque in Canada and nobody knows where they went and took them.
From now on their name shall become "Shabab Mufsideen" and we shall shed their blood where ever we see them. All Somali tribes where ever they shall put their hands together and fight them until they are exterminated.
I gather these young men who are going to Africa are misled by people who has their own agenda. They are musly very upset how things are going in back home. Before, there was an invission but know no one had any idea why they risking their lives. Why are they doing this and what make themto act this way.
Objective we heard from Shabab is that they want an Islamic country but what they do not know is Islam prohibited suicidal act. There are alternative to get this without harming people. Other people can defend themselves but revenge is not the solution.
From now on their name shall become "Shabab Mufsideen" and we shall shed their blood where ever we see them. All Somali tribes where ever they are shall put their hands together and fight them until they are exterminated.
Al Shabaab are sick animals, many young men from the West of Somali origins and others are joining them because they have fallen behind in these communities and societies many of them are high school drop outs, some former drug addicts.
Some just pissed with the hosting State for many reasons including failing, lack of social life, academic, news constantly attacking Muslims and Islam, and extremists like Al Shabab know this because they been there so they know how to reach out for these kind of youth. The result is young angry men bombarded with twisted ideologies.
Many also lost friends or families to the war before and after Ethiopia's invasion, so they are still angry. This guys are willing to die they do not see right from wrong, they have switched off all their feelings and guilt.
This is very determined enemy of the Somali race, many of Al Shabab leaderships are foreign they often use Somali youth as front men (spokesman, fake commanders etc).
The orders comes from no other than Al Qaeda, who send every few months a new operative and a new objective, they do not use the obvious routes (Arabia to Somalia via the Indian Ocean), many go to Tanzania, Comoros Island or places like Mozambique as businessmen or holidaymakers or visitors then they either fly to Somalia or travel by car through Kenya, Ethiopia-Somali vast border.
The explosives and weapons are supplied to them by Eritrea and Iran via the Ogaden region of Ethiopia or are smuggled through cargo ships carrying goods for "Somali investors from the Gulf".
A lot of the weapons are also smuggled from Somaliland's Burao via the Sool region. These guys are very sophisticated and they have supporters among us.
Sophisticated or not, their actions are alien to the Somali culture, it is Un-Islamic and cowardly. What has the killing of students have to do with anti-American or Anti-west sentiment?..Tell me, where does it say in the Quran to kill anyone in such a callous way? What did those students or any other victim do to deserve this?..