$2.2 Million Congo's New Bridge Collapses on Opening Day!

A new, long-awaited bridge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reportedly built for $2.2 million, spectacularly collapsed on the very day of its inauguration. The construction project was carried out by a company allegedly controlled by a member of the family of the country's President, Felix Tshisekedi.

The moment the 'New Water' bridge broke down was captured in a video posted on social media by the African media company Africa Today Media Group X. The footage quickly went viral, showing a group of people—the first to cross the bridge during the opening ceremony—falling into the water as the structure failed to withstand the weight. The video has garnered more than 4.5 million views to date.

The bridge, designed and built by specialists from the company owned by the President's relative, cost a reported $2.2 million. The collapse and the circumstances surrounding the contract have ignited widespread outrage among social media users.

The public outcry has centered on questions of procurement and transparency, demanding answers to “How was the contract concluded and does its price correspond to standard infrastructure costs in the republic?”

One widely shared comment from a netizen summarized the suspicion: "This bridge wasn't built for $2.2 million. They spent $100,000 on it and pocketed the remaining $2.1 million."

The President of Congo had his construction company build this bridge for 2 million.

It collapsed the day of the inauguration…. pic.twitter.com/RdClnJhd2f

— Crazy Clips (@crazyclipsonly) December 1, 2025