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).
you will never drill in holhol, taleex, xudun or any place on our land.
sign deals as much as you want, but the norwegians are warned and so are this so called somaliland administration.
there is no oil in those places though and even if there was, we would not be asking you.
Good warm welcome news. Thumbs up in support.
Cheers.
Those Scandinavian countries know whats up, very well managed states. Highly educated, great heathcare, liberal secular humanists these are the types of partners we should be seeking on the world stage we become who we associate with.
We are a product of who we associate with. We become that product's mold (image) but unfortunately some of us remain in that mold and never outgrow it.
Unlike Genel the regional manager of DNO is a highly intelligent and an honest man. He did not come to enrich himself but to help his motherland. I just hope he has the guts to give Xirsi and company the hike and tell them not to interfere with his operations. What I personally would want to see is that the majority of the contracts (equipment, transportation) given to Dhulbahante.
Do you think dhulbahante are guests of their own land? guess again my friend.
war dhulbahante ma waxaad moody dad marti ku ah dhulkooda?
Nacasnimada iska dhaafa, if you want to look for oil, try with genel in your own land first, it seems like you cannot even agree on your own land in the first place, before you try to sell someone else's land.
I promise you dhulbahante will never ever allow the norwegians nor the isaaqs to come and digg for oil in their land. It is ok for your troops to remain in some parts of our cities which we are planing to remove soon, but you can dream on for our oil. This oil belongs to the republic of Somalia, not a one clan seccenist enclave
People like you from Taleex engrossed with the failed idea of hartism, driven by pure hatred of their land, will regret this when you see the progress made by Somalilanders of holhol and environs (Gambadhe, Tukaraq, iyo Dooxada Xudun) . People like you will soon be coming to beg for forgiveness when you see pipes from holhol passing thru Tuulo Samakab and Oog.
Just remember the might of Somalilanders who obliterated Africa's most mechanized army to oblivion. Perhaps you need a new reminder that Somaliland's army is 10,000 times stronger and more equipped than when they were fighting for their freedom. Here is a good reminder why (
) you should never dream Somaliland is an easy target.
you will not ask the owner of the land? funny guy are, you should learn something called reality on the ground, its much different than behind a computer screen, where you can switch between SNM hero at somalilandpress and continue play war craft.
Uncivilised comment and very well below standard do you really have guts and print such a foolish comment and secondly l think you have come from very primitive tribe and understand that land belong to the Republic of Somaliland and no one else, l hope you have understood the situation full Stop.
I love patriotic people. well-done bro Patriotic. Just beware there is no primitive tribe in Somaliland, only a few individuals with wanlaweyn characters. We just need to re-educate them so that they stop saying 'no, this is mine, this is my village, this my water well, this my village, this is my, my, my, ….'. As you rightly have said is The Republic of Somaliland is for us all regardless of our regional background.
It belongs to the federal republic of Somalia last time I checked, you need to stoop with your stupid seccenist thoughts, only then we can agree on something, until then, Why would I a Dhulbahante of the Harti sub clan of the Darood clan allow myself to become a minority clan amongst isaaqs who are blood thirsty and have no respect for human lives? why would I allow that when I see that even amongst your selfs there are discrimination, I know that the habar jeclo administration alone have done so much bad and corrupted the land just the past few years. And that the other clans cannot withstand this anymore. Why should I explain to me? it is pure logic and common sense, that my interest are amongst the somali people in somalia, not within a one clan enclave…
It is quite astonishing the way The Somaliland President status has been REDUCED only to a five minute photo ops with foreign dignitaries and swift back to total obscurity. What the hell is going ON!!!!! Somebody speak up!
Hmmmmmmm