Deadly Congo boat disasters spotlight lax transport rules

People gather among the belongings of passengers from a capsized boat on the Congo River in Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo, October 16, 2023.

Photo credit: Reuters

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is mourning the loss of nearly 200 lives after two overloaded boats sank in Équateur Province in the north-west of the country.

However, this has also prompted public anger regarding the poorly enforced regulations surrounding water transport