20 people died when a student boat capsized after exams in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Written by: Ayman Ragab

At least 20 people died after a wooden boat carrying students returning from national exams sank in the central Democratic Republic of Congo, local authorities announced.

Students drown in Congo

The incident occurred in the Kasai region after the boat capsized while entering the confluence of the Sankuru and Kasai rivers, according to eyewitness accounts.

Boat sinking incidents are frequent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, often attributed to nighttime sailing, severe overcrowding, coupled with weak safety measures and the absence of infrastructure in remote areas, which has led to hundreds of victims in recent years.

François Capoula, the administrator of the Ilebo territory in Kasai province, where the incident occurred on Friday, said: “There were 80 survivors and 20 bodies.”.

20 dead

In contrast, eyewitness Chicodi Jean told the Associated Press that the boat was carrying more than 200 people, suggesting the death toll could be higher.

For his part, François Mallibos, president of civil society in Ilebo, criticized the state of river transport, saying: “Shipowners in the Democratic Republic of Congo only care about money and do not care about human lives.”.