Kinshasa Highway
Encyclopedia
The Kinshasa Highway is an informal name for route across the Democratic Republic of the Congo
into Uganda
and beyond, consisting of paved highways in some places and seasonally impassable tracks in others. The name has gained currency for the role which long-distance truck drivers played in the spread of AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. Although there is a paved road from Kinshasa
to Kikwit
and little beyond, and there are paved roads between Kisangani
, Bukavu
, Kampala
and Nairobi
, there has never been a paved highway across the centre of the Congo joining Kinshasa and Kikwit to Bukavu. Neither is there any coordinating authority for a 'Kinshasa Highway' or 'Autoroute de Kinshasa'.
It was said that the route of the Kinshasa Highway had to be carved out from thick jungle
, and after it was paved, AIDS
spread quickly, as carriers of the disease travelled along its length on board cars
and truck
s, from populated areas to more isolated rural areas. Prostitutes
at truck stop
s helped spread the disease even faster, and it is also referred to as the 'AIDS Highway'. This description may apply to a few highways which have been paved in the eastern Congo, such as the Kisangani-Bukavu road. It applies to an extent to the road across Uganda and into Kenya but this road was constructed and paved several decades before the emergence of AIDS.
One reason for the absence of highways through the rain forests and swamps of the central Congo, in addition to the difficulty of building and maintaining them, is that river transport has traditionally been used to a much greater extent than road transport in the country. The principal 'highway' between Kinshasa and Kisangani has been the Congo River, which is large enough to take small ships (though they have to be constructed in Kinshasa as the rapids on the lower Congo prevent navigation to the sea). Large river barges which are lashed together and towed by tugs as small floating towns travel between the two cities. It is likely that more overland travellers take this river route than go by truck, and therefore the spread of AIDS could take this route.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
into Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and beyond, consisting of paved highways in some places and seasonally impassable tracks in others. The name has gained currency for the role which long-distance truck drivers played in the spread of AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. Although there is a paved road from Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
to Kikwit
Kikwit
Kikwit is the largest city of Kwilu District, lying on the Kwilu River in the southwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kikwit is also known in the region under the nickname "The Mother". The population is approximately 294,210...
and little beyond, and there are paved roads between Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
, Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
, Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
and Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, there has never been a paved highway across the centre of the Congo joining Kinshasa and Kikwit to Bukavu. Neither is there any coordinating authority for a 'Kinshasa Highway' or 'Autoroute de Kinshasa'.
Highways in DR Congo
One of the most reliable indicators of highway condition in Africa are the Michelin maps which grade highway condition, in part from traveller's reports. The 2000 edition for 'Africa Central and South' indicates three 'transcontinental routes' between Kinshasa and Kisangani or Bukavu, all of them with very long stretches of road in the lowest category of highway condition, described as 'earth tracks likely to become impassable in bad weather'. The area has some of the highest rainfall in Africa. The editions published in the 1980s and 1990s indicate the same, an absence of paved roads through 750 km of rainforest from central to eastern DR Congo.It was said that the route of the Kinshasa Highway had to be carved out from thick jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
, and after it was paved, AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
spread quickly, as carriers of the disease travelled along its length on board cars
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, from populated areas to more isolated rural areas. Prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
at truck stop
Truck stop
A truck stop is a commercial facility predicated on providing fuel, parking, and often food and other services to motorists and truck drivers...
s helped spread the disease even faster, and it is also referred to as the 'AIDS Highway'. This description may apply to a few highways which have been paved in the eastern Congo, such as the Kisangani-Bukavu road. It applies to an extent to the road across Uganda and into Kenya but this road was constructed and paved several decades before the emergence of AIDS.
One reason for the absence of highways through the rain forests and swamps of the central Congo, in addition to the difficulty of building and maintaining them, is that river transport has traditionally been used to a much greater extent than road transport in the country. The principal 'highway' between Kinshasa and Kisangani has been the Congo River, which is large enough to take small ships (though they have to be constructed in Kinshasa as the rapids on the lower Congo prevent navigation to the sea). Large river barges which are lashed together and towed by tugs as small floating towns travel between the two cities. It is likely that more overland travellers take this river route than go by truck, and therefore the spread of AIDS could take this route.
See also
- Lagos-Mombasa HighwayLagos-Mombasa HighwayThe Lagos-Mombasa Highway is Trans-African Highway 8 and is principal road route between West and East Africa...
- Trans-African Highway networkTrans-African Highway networkThe Trans-African Highway network comprises transcontinental road projects in Africa being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa , the African Development Bank , and the African Union in conjunction with regional international communities...
- Trans–West African Coastal Highway