Congo – International Rivers

The mighty Congo is Africa’s second-longest river after the Nile; in terms of flow, it’s second only to the Amazon. With a basin spanning most of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and parts of six neighboring countries, the river has been a vital lifeline for centuries, forming (with its tributaries) a vast inland waterway that allows access to places still inaccessible by road. 

The river also nourishes immense biodiversity: It’s home to at least 700 fish species, and it supports the world’s second-largest rainforest. It also empties water and sediment into one of the largest carbon sinks in the world, the Congo Plume in the Atlantic.

Community members on the Congo River in the DRC. The river is used as a waterway for travel and trade. Photo by Ollivier Girard/CIFOR

Threats to the Congo

Hydropower companies have targeted the river for decades. The country commissioned two disastrous, corruption-laden projects in 1972 and 1982: Inga 1 and Inga 2. These projects displaced thousands, destroyed livelihoods and impoverished generations while plunging the country into debt. The dams never generated the power promised: 84% of Congolese people still lack access to electricity. But the debacle inspired a civil society movement that demands reparations for displaced residents as well as just energy transition. 

Our Work: Strengthening the Movement

The government continues to pursue dangerous, expensive hydropower schemes like the proposed Inga 3 dam and Grand Inga. With our partners, we have leveraged international expertise to expose the project’s fundamental flaws, successfully delaying it and changing the conversation both nationally and internationally. A vibrant and growing civil society movement, including women and Inga survivors, is working to change the country’s development path. They demand the immediate and equitable development of DRC’s other abundant resources, including solar, micro-hydro and wind power, to finally deliver much-needed energy access to the Congolese people.

View from the River Congo between Kinshasa and Lukolela, DRC | Photo by: Ollivier Girard/CIFOR.

On the Congo River between Kinshasa and Lukolela, DRC | Photo by Ollivier Girard/CIFOR.

Related Resources

Siziwe Mota, Africa Program Director, featured on eNCA cable news to speak to why Inga 3 is a disastrous economic, social and environmental decision.

Latest Updates

Congo River Basin Animation SeriesMay 1, 2024  ***Français ci-dessous*** International Rivers’ Africa Program is excited to launch an animated community education series on the Congo River Basin.  This animated series aims to provide easily digestible information for … Read more
DRC Delegation Addresses the Green Hydrogen Hype in EuropeDecember 21, 2023Introduction In September, International Rivers accompanied civil society partners and community leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to meet with European policymakers and civil society organizations, to … Read more
Inga 3: Too High a Cost for both South Africa and the DRC (French & English)March 23, 2022By: Aqeelah Hassen, Africa Program On Thursday the 17th of February International Rivers with partners Womin, Femmes Solidaires (FESO) and Coalition des Organisations de la Société Civile pour le Suivi … Read more
Press Release | South Africa’s energy crisis: New study confirms Inga 3 hydropower would cost South Africans an extra R10 billion per yearJune 29, 2021Today, International Rivers and WoMin African Alliance published a new report, INGA 3: Too High a Cost – A study of the Socio-Economic Costs of the Inga 3 Dam for … Read more

Source link : https://www.internationalrivers.org/where-we-work/africa/congo/

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Publish date : 2020-08-20 08:03:15

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