Mai-Ndombe province plans to launch a major infrastructure program in the coming days that combines the rehabilitation and modernization of more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) of roads with plans for a modern airport in Inongo.

The announcement was made by Governor Lebon Nkoso Kevani, who said funding has been secured and that site preparations are already underway.

According to information released by the provincial government, the road component includes 14 kilometers of urban roads in Inongo, 64 kilometers along the Inongo-Nkolobeke route, as well as 3 kilometers of urban roads in Nioki and another 3 kilometers in Bokoro. The official start of construction is expected to be marked by a ceremony led by the national minister of Infrastructure and Public Works.

At this stage, authorities have not yet released a detailed schedule, construction timeline, total budget or the identity of the contractor selected for the overall program. Official announcements have mainly focused on a start expected "in the coming days" and ongoing site preparation work in several localities.

The project comes as road infrastructure remains one of the biggest barriers to the movement of people and goods across the province. According to provincial data cited by Actualite.cd, Mai-Ndombe's road network extends for 2,514 kilometers, including 1,078 kilometers of primary provincial roads and 968 kilometers of secondary provincial roads.

Despite its size, much of the network has yet to be upgraded. According to the same data, no road in the province has been paved using public funds, with the exception of one kilometer improved in Bendela by a private company and a short stretch of concrete pavement laid in Inongo by the outgoing provincial administration.

Further Details Expected

Technical details of the airport project announced for Inongo remain limited. Authorities have not yet specified whether the project will involve upgrading the existing airfield, extending its runway or constructing an entirely new airport facility.

The issue has, however, been under consideration for several years. A video published by the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT) stated that an assessment team had been sent to Inongo to collect and verify data on the airfield, carry out topographical and hydrological surveys, inventory existing infrastructure and prepare future expansion plans.

According to the video, the current facility has a runway measuring 1,400 meters in length and 30 meters in width, dimensions considered restrictive for handling larger aircraft. The ACGT highlighted the airfield's importance to regional connectivity in an area where poor road conditions limit transportation alternatives.

In March 2025, state broadcaster RTNC also reported that an ACGT team was working on preparations for a modern airport project in Inongo. At the time, the project was presented as a candidate for funding under Sino-Congolese cooperation.

The prospect of a modern airport in Inongo therefore complements the road program announced by provincial authorities. Together, the two projects seek to address the same challenge: improving access to a province that remains heavily isolated and strengthening connections between Inongo, other localities in Mai-Ndombe and the rest of the country.

 Boaz Kabeya