• State-run Transco receives 30 new Mercedes-Benz buses from local assembler.

• Government plans $82.5m investment for 750 buses and new facilities by 2027.

• Expansion targets Kinshasa’s 20m residents facing severe urban mobility gaps.

Transco, the public mass transit operator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, took delivery on August 25 of 30 Mercedes-Benz buses supplied by Suprême Automobile, a local vehicle assembler. The units are part of a government order aimed at strengthening the company’s operational capacity.

According to local media, a public investment plan attached to the 2025 draft finance bill unveiled late last year earmarked about $82.5 million for Transco between 2025 and 2027. The funds will go toward the purchase of 750 new buses and the development of depots and maintenance facilities.

The initiative seeks to expand public transport services, particularly in Kinshasa, a city of nearly 20 million people struggling with major mobility challenges due to rapid population growth and heavy reliance on a limited road network.

Kinshasa offers varied transport options, but efficiency remains low. Informal buses known locally as “3-5-7” dominate the system, complemented by motorcycles, taxis, and more recently ride-hailing services such as Yango, which continue to grow.