Tanganyika residents oppose toll fee increase on Kalemie-Manono road

Traders, transporters, and local authorities in the Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are resisting efforts to reinstate high toll fees on the Kalemie-Manono road axis. Following a ministerial decree on June 12, 2026, toll fees for heavy trucks were reduced by approximately 80%, dropping from over $1,200 to a range between $200 and $250 per trip.

The reduction, reportedly prompted by President Félix Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, has significantly lowered transport costs for the 446-kilometer route. Local economic actors, including the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC), report that the lower rates have stabilized prices, increased market activity, and improved the profitability of logistics operations.

There are concerns regarding the Chinese company Huipeng, which collects the tolls, as it faces accusations of lobbying for a return to the previous higher rates. Local stakeholders and provincial Governor Christian Kitungwa are calling for the maintenance of the current lower tariffs to protect consumers and ensure the continued flow of goods between the two cities.