Bukavu: City report

Working Paper 33

Emery Mushagalusa Mudinga, Aymar Nyenyezi Bisoka and Philippe Mulumeoderhwa Kaganda

December 2025

Abstract

Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was founded in 1900 by Belgian colonists. It has expanded from 3km² to 60km², with a population of approximately 1.25 million. In the 1950s, the city was a model of segregated urban planning, with separate neighbourhoods for white and black residents. After independence in 1960, Bukavu experienced demographic changes and urban decay, worsened by the influx of refugees following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Rural insecurity and a war economy driven by mineral resources and trade led to informal construction and deteriorating living conditions. Outside the city centre, most neighbourhoods house low-income populations, with informal settlements growing, due to displacement caused by armed conflicts. To understand this situation, the report applies the ACRC’s holistic framework for analysing urban development in Africa, which has three integrated components – politics, systems and development domains. Politically, despite national stability since 2006, local governance remains marked by clientelism and inefficiency. The central government maintains control over provinces, despite their legal autonomy. Bukavu elites, influential in Kinshasa, can act as mediators but often pursue personal interests. The report recommends promoting reforms to improve services and governance, leveraging semi-autonomous mechanisms within the city’s authorities for development, and supporting local civil society to pressure urban authorities for greater accountability. This approach can drive urban growth and align policies with citizens’ needs.

Keywords

Urban development, political settlements, domain, system, governance, civil society, accountability, Bukavu, South-Kivu, DRC