The Port of Ilebo, located in Kasaï Province, has resumed operations following extensive rehabilitation efforts.
On April 30, Operations Coordinator Willy Mizumu announced the arrival of the first vessel since the port was shut down, delivering 1,000 tonnes of cement.
The port had been out of service since July, when it was severely damaged by a fire. Restoration efforts included the reactivation of the thermal power plant and the installation of a large drainage collector to curb erosion.
Rail traffic between Kananga and Ilebo—previously suspended for months due to eroded tracks—was restored in February after the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC) relocated rail lines in critical sections to bypass the damaged areas.
Despite progress, risks remain. Erosion along the tracks between Tshilubulu and Bena Leka continues to threaten connectivity between Kasaï and Kasaï-Central.
As a key hub in the supply chain for central Democratic Republic of Congo, Ilebo Port had faced severe disruption.
The suspension of river links with Kinshasa and industrial cargo traffic had rendered operations economically unsustainable.
Managed by SNCC, the port is one of the country’s major inland terminals. It plays a central role in a multimodal transport project supported by the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) and the African Development Bank.
The project seeks to strengthen regional integration through a planned rail bridge connecting Brazzaville and Kinshasa, along with the development of the Kinshasa-Ilebo railway, a new road network, and a unified border post.
