The government-backed Esprit de Vie program, which aims to modernize urban transport by providing buses and minibuses to private operators through credit, is expected to gain renewed momentum. Preparations are underway to deploy nearly 500 new buses in Kinshasa. The announcement was made during a business lunch organized in November 2025 by the Building and Public Works (BTP) Club and the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of the Forum Expo Beton, according to the program’s new coordinator, Kasumbu Mbaya Borrey.

A vehicle repossession operation involving buses allocated during previous phases of the program began in December 2025 and must take place before the arrival of the new fleet. According to Borrey, 649 buses were delivered to private operators under a credit scheme at a unit price of $57,000, to be repaid in monthly installments. As of 2026, marking the end of the seven-year contract period, only one buyer has fully repaid the loan. The other 648 vehicles must be recovered because they remain state-owned. Several Congolese media outlets reported that the operation involves more than $22 million in unpaid financial obligations.

According to the new coordinator, 294 vehicles due to be deployed had already arrived in the capital in November, while around 200 others were still at the port of Matadi. The buses are believed to be part of a batch of 500 Hyundai vehicles with 27 seats each, imported from South Korea and ordered by the central government from dealer Central Motors. According to the former program coordination, part of the batch has been stuck at Matadi port since 2023 due to financial difficulties linked to customs clearance.

Borrey said abuses observed during previous phases stemmed in particular from the allocation of buses to politicians, military personnel, or beneficiaries who never made a single payment.

To prevent a repeat, he said the program will now rely on the digitalization of management. Each bus will be equipped with a GPS system to ensure real-time tracking. A digital management system similar to the one used by Transco, and developed with the company Sycamore, will also be deployed to improve traceability and financial discipline. Access to the program will be subject to stricter eligibility criteria, aiming to ensure that only buyers capable of meeting their financial commitments can join the scheme.

The Esprit de Vie program was launched to improve mobility by gradually replacing old minibuses that are often involved in accidents. It was named to distinguish it from the Mercedes 207 minibuses nicknamed “esprit de mort,” which are known for being in poor condition and frequently involved in accidents. For its implementation, the Congolese state signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Owners of Vehicles Assigned to Public Transport (APVECO).

Timothée Manoke