At least 12 dead, dozens missing after vessel capsizes in DR Congo

At least 12 individuals have perished, with dozens still unaccounted for following a maritime tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A boat transporting fish traders tragically capsized in Lake Kivu late Saturday night near the island of Idjwi, located in South Kivu province. Authorities have confirmed the vessel carried over 50 passengers and cargo, with the journey beginning in Bwina on Idjwi Island and intended for Boza.

Félix Habiragi, chief of the nearby village of Kisheke, reported that approximately 15 people were pulled from the water. The exact cause of the incident remains uncertain. Footage from the scene depicts villagers and passengers retrieving bodies from the lake. The tragic loss has inflicted significant grief upon local communities.

Christian Amini Ndahira, a resident of Idjwi, mourns the loss of a close friend, stating, "We had even spoken in the evening, before he boarded that boat. It’s so sad for me and for his family." This incident follows another severe maritime catastrophe earlier in the week: at least 41 people died and 49 others were rescued when a boat capsized on Lake Tanganyika near the village of Mapera.

That vessel reportedly carried around 100 people and cargo. Water transportation is a vital lifeline for over 100 million individuals in the Congo, where road infrastructure is limited. However, safety regulations are often disregarded. Vessels frequently carry excessive loads of goods and passengers, and many travelers embark without life jackets.

Civil society advocates highlight the persistent disparity between policy and enforcement. Dorcelle Bagazane, a civil society activist in Idjwi, emphasized the ongoing challenges in enforcement, noting, "The authorities had, in particular, begun requiring passengers to wear life jackets. Today, however, many people continue to travel without them."

As national agencies face mounting pressure to reform inland waterway regulations, local governance experts stress that effective public safety campaigns must accompany punitive enforcement measures to safeguard vulnerable commuters who rely on informal river and lake networks.