The Democratic Republic of Congo signed three construction contracts worth a combined estimated $187 million on June 3 in Kinshasa for work on the Mbanga-Lualaba section of National Highway No. 2 (RN2).
The contracts cover the paving of 206 kilometres of road between Mbanga and the Lualaba River, as well as the construction of a 714-metre bridge. Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza Lunda signed the agreements with three Chinese firms: China First Highway Engineering Company Limited, Sinohydro Bureau 14 and the China Jiangxi International Economic consortium.
The project is part of the World Bank-funded Transport and Connectivity Support Project (PACT) and marks a new phase in efforts to modernise RN2, which is intended to become a strategic corridor linking central and eastern DRC.
Two road sections
The 206 kilometres will be divided into two sections of roughly 100 kilometres each, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works. The work will complement 280 kilometres already under development between Mbuji-Mayi, Kabinda and Mbanga. With this new phase, the total length of upgraded road on the corridor is expected to reach approximately 480 kilometres.
The project calls for a dual two-lane carriageway, which the government says will be among the country's first highways built to modern standards. The infrastructure will also include provisions for the future deployment of fibre optic cable and electrical power transmission equipment.
One of the programme's major structures is a 714-metre bridge over the Lualaba River. The ministry said the crossing will also feature two lanes in each direction.
Road construction costs are estimated at approximately $150 million, with an execution period of 36 months. The bridge is valued at $37 million and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Work set to begin in October
The ministry said the procurement process was conducted in accordance with World Bank requirements. Technical studies were launched at the start of 2025, ahead of an international competitive tender process and the evaluation of submitted bids.
Before construction begins, currently scheduled for October 2026, the companies will have a four-month mobilisation period to transport equipment and establish construction camps. The ministry also announced a technical planning meeting with stakeholders.
The corridor is ultimately intended to improve connectivity for the Kasai-Oriental, Lomami, Maniema and South Kivu provinces. It is also expected to boost the movement of people and goods between Mbuji-Mayi, Kabinda, Mbanga and communities beyond the Lualaba River.
The project confirms the phased approach to modernising RN2. The section now under contract covers the Mbanga-Lualaba stretch, while the continuation toward Penemwanga and then Bukavu is expected to be addressed in subsequent stages.
Boaz Kabeya
