Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba met on October 13, 2025, with officials from the transport, economy, and finance ministries, as well as representatives of drivers’ unions, ahead of a tariff commission meeting expected in the coming days. The talks aim to establish a new and balanced public transport fare structure that reflects recent economic changes, including the appreciation of the Congolese franc (FC) and a sharp drop in fuel prices.

The franc has strengthened by about 20% in just a few weeks, rising from 2,800 FC to 2,246.57 FC per U.S. dollar as of October 14, 2025. Over the past year, fuel prices in the Western zone, which includes the capital, have fallen nearly 25%, with gasoline dropping from 3,440 FC to 2,690 FC per liter and diesel from 3,435 FC to 2,680 FC per liter.

The current fare schedule, adopted in December 2024 and setting prices between 500 FC and 8,500 FC depending on distance, has not been consistently enforced. Governor Bumba called for a fair and regulated adjustment, criticizing operators who set prices arbitrarily with no regard for market conditions.

He also denounced the widespread practice of “demi-terrain,” meaning drivers dividing routes in half to double fares, and announced measures to curb it, including the mandatory display of route information on all public transport vehicles and tighter inspections to ensure compliance.

The adoption and publication date of the revised fare schedule has not yet been announced.

Boaz Kabeya