Nature is running amok, and the province of Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo is paying a heavy price. On 6 May 2025, the town of Kalemie was hit by violent flooding caused by the overflowing of the Kalemie river, resulting in considerable material damage and disrupting the daily lives of thousands of residents. Although there was no loss of life, the floods did cause considerable material damage, underlining the region’s growing exposure to the effects of climate change.
Situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kalemie is now on borrowed time. Recent rainfall has caused the waters of the Kalemie river to swell, submerging residential areas and turning streets and houses into veritable swamps. Homes have been destroyed, roads rendered impassable and hundreds of families displaced. With the water stagnating, major health risks are now looming over the population: diseases, infections, malaria… All these threats are adding to the burden of the victims, who are already hard hit by the loss of their possessions.
A city in danger…
The province of Tanganyika, with its 134,940 km², is a rich region, but one of extreme ecological fragility. Kalemie, its capital, is hemmed in between mountains and lakes, making it particularly vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather. Although these floods were caused by the Kalemie river, it is the province’s geographical configuration as a whole that makes it an area of heightened risk. The absence of solid dykes, modern drainage systems and planned urban development increases the danger.
So the alarm is sounded: if nothing is done, the next few years could see large swathes of Kalemie gradually engulfed by rising waters.
Governor Christian Kitungwa’s call and COSERA’s Mobilization
Faced with the emergency, the Governor of Tanganyika province, Christian Kitungwa, made an appeal through the media when he visited the area to see the extent of the damage: ‘I appeal to our international partners, NGOs and men and women of goodwill to mobilise to come to the aid of the population’.
In response to this call, Dr Debora Kayembe, princess of the Nkeka dynasty in Tanganyika province, and the Council of Sages of African Kingdoms and Empires (COSERA), of which she is a member, immediately took action. They are preparing to launch a vast campaign to raise awareness of the ecological emergency in Tanganyika, in order to provide appropriate and substantial support to the stricken population.
This solidarity action is in line with the mission of COSERA, a pan-African platform inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy – ‘I am because we are’ – which campaigns for an Africa that is united, resilient and attached to its cultural roots.
The Kalemie branch of the humanitarian organisation Full Options SCIO, founded by Dr Débora Kayembe, has already sent a letter to the highest hierarchy to ensure that all the mobilisations under way are equal to the challenges. The aim is to ensure that every action taken responds concretely and effectively to the urgent and pressing needs of the people affected.
Preventing, not enduring: Dr Debora Kayembe’s message
When interviewed by our editorial team, Dr Debora Kayembe reminded us that ‘Kalemie must not disappear. The survival of a people, a culture, a heritage and one of the most precious ecosystems in the DRC and Africa is at stake’. For her, this tragedy is not inevitable, but the direct consequence of a blatant lack of rigour, coordination and sustainable vision in environmental management.
She called for a new political, scientific and civic awareness to break with the status quo.
‘If we don’t take care of our planet today, our entire future will sink with it. There is still time to act. But tomorrow may be too late,’ she concluded.
The global climate emergency and what is at stake for the DRC
For Dr Debora Kayembe, the Kalemie floods are just one sign among many of an accelerating global climate imbalance. She warns of the urgent need to rethink our priorities, pointing out that the Democratic Republic of Congo, guardian of a large part of the Congo Basin, is both a lung for the planet and a vulnerable land. ‘We must act now to adapt our cities, protect our people and preserve our ecosystems. The future of the DRC, and beyond that of Africa, will depend on our ability to anticipate, innovate and act in the face of climate disruption’, she asserts.
If the authorities decide to see the glass as half full, the town of Kalemie could today become the starting point for a collective awakening, where local and national leaders and scientists decide to act together to avoid the worst.
