The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin construction in January 2026 on a new highway to link Kinshasa's city center to Ndjili International Airport, Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Mbemba announced on Nov. 26.

The project, announced at the Makutano forum, aims to reduce a journey that can often take several hours.

“The plan is to build a highway starting from Triumphal Boulevard, running through Sendwe, June 30 Boulevard, Limete and Lumumba Boulevard all the way to the airport,” Mbemba said. “We will widen the existing roads, build tunnels in some sections and flyovers in others.”

According to the minister, the longest structure will stretch 1.2 kilometers and will be built in the Tshangu area.

Mbemba added that the project was approved by the Council of Ministers about six weeks ago, and the Congolese Agency for Major Public Works is now carrying out technical studies. He also said a second highway project is being prepared, with more details to be released once it reaches a more advanced stage.

Boaz Kabeya