Democratic Republic of Congo relies on baleinière riverboats

The Democratic Republic of Congo relies heavily on an extensive inland waterway system for transport and food security. While road networks and large barge convoys have been studied, the smaller-scale river transportation system remains less documented despite its critical role.

Handcrafted wooden cargo ships known as baleinières, or “whaleboats,” serve as a primary transport method. Measuring between 20 and 40 metres, these vessels connect major cities like Kinshasa, Mbandaka, and Kisangani with crop-producing communities in the rainforest hinterlands.

Since the 1990s, these artisanal vessels have been essential to the transport infrastructure of the Congo Basin, linking the national capital to various provinces and ensuring the food supply for large riverine urban centers.