DRC–CAR: the US$221 million Zongo–Bangui bridge is expected to be completed in 2027
The project to build a bridge over the Ubangui River, designed to link the town of Zongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR), could enter its operational phase in 2027.
Valued at 221 million US dollars, this infrastructure project aims to strengthen trade and economic integration between the two countries.
On Friday 6 November 2026, in Kinshasa, the Minister for Infrastructure and Public Works, John Banza Lunda, received a delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), as well as Congolese and Central African experts. The meeting focused on reviewing the findings of the project assessment.
According to the timetable presented, the proposal is due to be submitted to the AfDB’s Board of Directors for approval in the first quarter of 2027. Work is expected to commence in the second half of the same year.
The construction of this bridge is of strategic importance for connectivity between the DRC and the CAR.
By facilitating the movement of people and goods between Zongo and Bangui, the infrastructure is expected to help streamline trade, reduce the constraints associated with crossing the Ubangui River and improve cross-border transport conditions.
Beyond its role in improving mobility, this US$221 million project forms part of a broader strategy to open up the region and strengthen regional economic integration in Central Africa. Its completion could therefore open up new opportunities for economic operators in both countries.
The project also provides for joint funding by the DRC and the CAR, allocated according to the infrastructure and developments carried out within each country’s territory.
Ultimately, the bridge is expected to replace the crossings currently provided by ferry or dugout canoe, which are often slow and dependent on navigation conditions on the Ubangui River. It forms part of the development of the Bangui–Kisangani–Bujumbura–Kampala regional corridor, designed to improve connectivity between Central and East Africa.
