Residents and transporters in the Bas-Uele province of northeastern DRC are raising alarm over escalating road harassment and exorbitant toll fees, with some users reporting payments exceeding 10,000 Congolese Francs (FC) per journey.
Multiple road users say they are routinely subjected to unofficial checkpoints, aggressive demands for bribes, and repeated tolls, creating both economic and physical insecurity along major transport routes in the province.
“This is becoming unbearable,” said one local driver. “You pay at one checkpoint, and a few kilometers later, there’s another. We end up paying more than 10,000 FC just to move goods or reach the next town.”
The situation has sparked calls for urgent intervention from provincial and national authorities, with civil society organizations urging a crackdown on corruption and the establishment of a fair and transparent toll system.
Bas-Uele’s road network is a critical artery for trade and mobility in the region, and stakeholders warn that continued abuse could cripple economic activity and deepen distrust in local governance.