The Democratic Republic of Congo is witnessing a surge in boat capsizes, with more people choosing wooden vessels over road travel. Moussa Safari searches the waters of Lake Kivu for his missing brother, a victim of a recent tragedy where a boat carrying 278 people sank, resulting in 78 deaths and numerous missing individuals.
“We have conducted extensive searches, but so far, we have found nothing,” Safari said. “However, we continue to look for updates about our missing brothers.”
Serge Nzonga, a passenger, shared his dilemma: “Despite our ongoing grief from the recent drownings, I must travel. This is still the only route to South Kivu to see our family.”
Hydrology and environment analyst Émile Murhula reported that nearly 1,000 people have died on Lake Kivu this year, urging the government to take preventive measures against the ongoing crisis. In response to the rising fatalities, the Congolese Minister of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has halted night-time travel on Lake Kivu to improve maritime safety.
Passengers at Goma port reacted with shock to the news on October 9, 2024. Boat owners expressed concern over potential financial losses, with Captain Abedi suggesting adjustments to two trips per day. Captain Eliiya Bahati warned that the financial impact would be significant, stating, “There will be a loss because we won’t earn anything.”
According to Norbert Rugusha, the lakeside commissioner at Goma port, the suspension will remain until further notice, affecting hundreds of travelers who rely on the Goma-Bukavu route, the only transport option between the two cities, as the National Road N2 is currently closed and deemed unsafe. In Goma, a youth protest highlighted frustrations over the government’s lack of transparency regarding the actual number of fatalities from last week’s incident.
