The Congo-river is really large between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. I think even more larger than the distance of Instabul's part in Asia and that of Europe that are connected by bridge recently build in 2004. There were plans of building a bridge somewhere in the 80s, but Zaire had at his side already to much debts (Inga II, Nsele, etc.).
In the time of Laurent Desire Kabila, that of Joseph Kabila and Felix Tshisekedi, the project came back. But some politicians and people coming from the Kongo-Central were against. In their opinion a bridge between Kinshasa and Brazzaville would go into DR Congo disadvantage and make Brazzaville profit alot in economic terms and makes grow the city Pointe Noire on the coast even more. Also killing the economic activity in its port towns of Boma and Matadi, which are key contributors to our economy. Some even went far and want to see Kongo Central becoming independent if Kinshasa would accept the Brazzaville-Kinshasa deal.
DR Congo doesn't have a port in deep water which makes the goods already being expensive when arriving in Boma and Matadi, next to the exaggerated high douane charge. Both ports are in shallow water for big boats, so when a big boat arrive they have to get rid of the sand in the Congo river which cost alot of time and money. Which why businessmen and people prefer to do their stuff in Pointe Noire and with a bridge between Brazzaville and Kinshasa, ittotally kill the Kongo Central province. Kongo Central lives from it since that many cities (Madimba, Kisantu, Kasangulu, Kimpese and Mbanza Ngungu) are situated in the Kinshasa - Matadi route and big trucks passing by. Imagine the bridge being build that's total suicide for a province that's already poor and also for the country itself.
There were since the era of Mobutu plans to build a big port in Banana which is at the Atlantic coast. But the notables chiefs coming from Boma and Matadi were totally against and did everything to block the project. This because they didn't want people in these cities losing their job. But things changed from the 2008/09 when Joseph Kabila's clan took total control of both ports, always getting 90% of the profits. It made people not being able to make profit, employees losing their jobs, many activities going down and a crisis starting in both cities. Kuluna started to appear in both cities due to poverty and no jobs being available.
With the plans of the bridge between Brazzavilla and Kinshasa, those of Kinshasa want to have the port of Banana first before building the bridge. Because with Banana it would make DR Congo rebirth. Felix Tshisekedi recently put the first stone of it's building. However, there are reports that French companies based in Pointe Noire are doing everything to block the construction of port in Banana. Because with Banana they would make less profit. Another thing is that environment activists are afraid that the port would kill the Mangroves National Park.
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