An insult to God At least 25 killed after an overcrowded boat capsizes in Congo prompted calls for the government to equip the province with flotation devices caught up in the deadly clashes between Congolese security forces and rebels

Congolese officials have often warned against overloading and vowed to punish those violating safety measures for water transportation. However, in remote areas where most passengers come from, many are unable to afford public transport for the few available roads.

At least 78 people drowned in October when an overloaded boat sank in the country’s east while 80 lost their lives in a similar accident near Kinshasa in June.

The latest accident prompted calls for the government to equip the province with flotation devices.

“The government must act to improve safety on the waters of our province (because) navigation conditions are dangerous,” said Mbumba.

The capsizing of overloaded boats is also becoming increasingly frequent in this central African nation as more people are abandoning the few available roads for wooden vessels crumbling under the weight of passengers and their goods because of security reasons.

The roads are often caught up in the deadly clashes between Congolese security forces and rebels that sometimes block major access routes. Hundreds have already been killed or declared missing in such accidents so far this year.

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/18/nx-s1-5232643/congo-boat-capsizes-kinshasa#:~:text=Congolese%20officials%20have%20often%20warned,for%20the%20few%20available%20roads.