By Denise Kavira Kyalwahi and Dr. Gode Bola

Living on the banks of the Ndj’ili River poses significant risks for many residents of Kinshasa city in DR Congo, as recent flooding has demonstrated.

The Ndj’ili River is a significant waterway in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the capital city of Kinshasa. It flows through the city which is situated along its banks. It is part of the Congo River basin, one of the largest river systems in Africa. Ndj’ili River provides water for domestic use, supports agriculture and fishing activities, and historically served as a transportation route. It is however prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season which typically lasts from September to May.

For example, from November 2023 to February 2024, six communities along this river—Limete, Kisenso, Mongafula, Masina, Matete, and N’djili—experienced severe flooding due to unusually heavy rains not typical for Kinshasa’s meteorological patterns.

The Baptiste Community in Congo (CBCE) located in Mbudi Quarter in Mongafula, particularly affected, reported 14 households directly impacted by the flooding, with an additional 13 households displaced along the N’djili River. Leaders from the CBCE community attribute this situation to climate change, which they believe is now impacting the region more severely.

Apart from climate change, several factors contribute to these recurring floods: poor management of plastic waste, rapid urban expansion, frequent flooding, unregulated construction practices, and encroachment on riparian lands. To make matters worse, these challenges are gradually altering the riverbed, exacerbating the risks faced by residents.

Personal stories of loss

Daniel Mayani, permanent secretary of CBCE, recounts the devastation saying, that since November 2023, flooding from the Ndjili River has, “severely affected,” the community.

He recounts that fourteen households, each accommodating between 14 to 20 people, were directly impacted. Several families were forced to evacuate, abandoning homes swallowed by the floods.

Claudine, a resident of Mbudi, shares her harrowing experience: “I used to sell Chikwange from home to support my family. When the floods hit, I left a large stock behind. Upon returning, everything was ruined beyond salvage. The loss amounted to 540,000 CF francs ($200), wiping out my livelihood and leaving my children without essentials for school.”

Célestin Muluba of Limete attributes this challenge to a lack of oversight in urban planning saying the district, once agricultural, is now “densely populated without proper guidance on the risks. No one informed us about the dangers of building near the river,” he stresses.

Juliette Kavira, who relocated to Kimwenza to escape rising waters, vividly describes the devastation; “The river overflowed, destroying homes and businesses. Even my garden, just eight meters away, was submerged for over three months.”

Rising waters and environmental science

According to Luna Scientia, a researcher and Master’s student in Water Resources Management at the Ecole Régionale de l’Eau, University of Kinshasa, 11.9% of the river’s catchment area’s population and 36.1% of its infrastructure are currently vulnerable to flooding.

“In the community of Limete, particularly in Ndanu, large portions of land formerly used by Chinese for rice mills now lie as marshlands,” explains Scientia.

Similarly, in Mont Ngafula, Mbudi district, renowned for yam and oil palm cultivation, ongoing urbanization exacerbates the flood risks due to multiple human activities and seasonal disturbances according to Scientia.

He emphasizes the urgency for mitigating flood impacts noting that increased rainfall and demographic changes in urbanized areas close to water courses worsen flooding.

“Immediate actions are needed to reduce vulnerability and economic losses,” he notes, further advocating for sanitation infrastructure as a crucial solution to mitigate the impacts of Ndjili River flooding.

Flooding not only submerges properties and pollutes water but also endangers fauna and uproots vegetation.

Scientia laments that swift floods pose the highest risk to public safety, as there is often no time to evacuate.

Flood forecasting and management

A study conducted by Dr. Gode Bola from the Ecole Régionale de l’Eau at the University of Kinshasa highlights the vulnerability of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries to flooding caused by the Congo River’s overflowing waters.

According to Dr. Bola, the countries within the Congo River basin, especially the DRC, Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic face significant exposure to flooding.

“Floods are particularly challenging to predict due to our limited understanding of the underlying processes governing flood risks,” notes Dr. Bola, emphasizing the scarcity of data at appropriate spatial and temporal scales.

Recent advancements in computing power and improved access to Earth observation data present unprecedented opportunities for flood forecasting, which Dr. Bola believes can help mitigate flood risks.

Dr. Bola also explains the seasonal climate of Kinshasa, stating, “The city experiences two distinct seasons; a dry season lasting approximately three months (mid-May to September) and a rainy season lasting about eight to nine months (September to mid-May) annually.” This seasonal pattern is influenced by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s equatorial position.

“The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), known as a band of clouds consisting of showers and occasional thunderstorms that encircles the globe near the equator, frequently passes over the skies of the DRC, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high temperatures,” describes Dr. Bola.  

“These conditions make the country susceptible to flooding, posing threats not only to the land itself but also to the health, well-being, and economic stability of its population,” he says.

Various study models (e.g. Lisflood) have been developed to assess flood extent and provide insights into scientific and management inquiries concerning flood hazards and their evolving risks.

For example, a study conducted in 2022 by Dr. Bola and colleagues at the Ecole Institut Régionale de l’Eau in Kinshasa underscores the severe impact of floods on the population and their assets.

This study found that “floods have emerged as the foremost threat, affecting diverse aspects of life including environmental sustainability, sanitation, water supply services, and socio-economic activities within affected communities.”

Government response and public health

In a press release issued on Thursday, December 28, Divine Mulumba Kapinga, Deputy Director General of the Régie des Vvoies Ffluviales (RVF), raised the alarm regarding the unprecedented rise in the waters of the Congo River and its tributaries.

He expressed concern over the escalating risk to human life and property posed by the current situation.

Mulumba urged both public authorities and the general public to take immediate measures to protect themselves against widespread flooding affecting nearly the entire floodplain of Kinshasa. 

Concerns over rising water levels

Raphael Tshimanga, a hydrologist and university professor from Kinshasa, emphasizes the challenge posed by the relatively short recurrence cycle of flooding, occurring approximately every two years, which complicates hydrological forecasting.

He says the unprecedented increase in the water level of the Congo River remains a significant concern, particularly following recent flooding along this major African river.

According to Régie des Voies Fluviales (RVF) reports, the current water level of the Congo River stands at 5.9 meters, approaching the peak of 6.26 meters recorded in 1961.

RVF’s records of measurements taken on December 27, 2023, to check how fast the water was moving in the river and how high the water was, indicated that the water was 6.20m high, equivalent to 75,000 cubic metres flowing fast at 73,209.101 cubic meters per second. The water level was 5.91 meters high.

RVF warns public authorities regarding potential loss of life and outbreaks of water-borne diseases, especially in flood-prone areas of Kinshasa.

Numerous cases of water-borne diseases have been documented in various parts of the city.

“We regularly have outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera, scabies, and malaria. Currently, our children are covered in sores from scabies and mosquito bites. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to care for them as everything we owned was swept away by the flood,” explains a resident of Limete.

Dr. Kambale Mutavali, overseeing hospital hygiene, health, and environmental sanitation at Clinique Kinoise in Kinshasa, wants residents of Kinshasa to take responsibility for the city’s sanitation.

He elaborates on the health challenges faced in Mbudi; “We have seen numerous cases of diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, and scabies, all stemming from inadequate sanitation.” 

Dr. Kambale says some residents in these areas struggle to build proper latrines and when the flood rains come, everything washes into private plots, where no one has sanitized or disinfected affected homes.

“Our health facility has even recorded deaths from malaria among those forced to sleep outside during the flood event this rainy season,” notes Dr. Kambale.

He urges survivors of this natural disaster not to wait until the situation worsens.

“At the first sign, they should move to safer areas away from the riverbank to protect their lives and seek immediate medical attention,” he notes.

Economic fallout and societal impact

The floods have dealt a severe blow to local economic activities, particularly market gardening, resulting in significant financial losses.

In 2022, floods were identified as the second most financially burdensome climatic event, according to a report by the British NGO Christian Aid.

These floods disrupted socio-economic activities, including the supply of drinking water, with over three-quarters of Kinshasa’s population deprived of access to clean water for several days.

Architectural solutions and community initiatives

Célestin Muluba, an architect, proposes constructing dykes and implementing pumping systems to redirect river water could safeguard his neighbourhood.

“The River Ndjili’s water level now surpasses our homes; we are below and the river is above. We urgently need the government to build elevated roads to navigate this disaster, “narrates Muluba. 

He urges the Congolese government to build a dyke to contain rising waters, allowing for secondary avenues underneath and gutters to channel water away from the population.

Muluba also urges the government to enforce penalties against those who litter the river, citing it as a contributing factor to the Ndj’ili River flooding.

The story has been produced in partnership with InfoNile and with funding from JRS Biodiversity Foundation and IHE-Delft’s Water and Development Partnership Programme. It is a collaborative effort between a journalist and a scientist, specifically Denise Kyalwahi and Godet Bola.

Godet Bola is a research scientist at the University of Kinshasa and a teacher at the Regional Institute of Water.