Johnny's journey along the Congo River from Kisangani to Kinshasa in July to August 2007 covered 1,734 km over 31 days aboard the riverboat MV Luberu, aimed at anthropological research and the establishment of a mission harbor. The journey revealed the socio-economic challenges faced by isolated communities due to historical exploitation and ongoing conflict, emphasizing the need for sustainable development initiatives. Despite the difficulties, there remains a significant opportunity for positive impact and growth in the region through collaborative efforts.

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JOHNNY’S INCREDIBLE CONGO RIVER JOURNEY
MV LUBERU Johnny Geographical Perspective: Congo River
Date: July to August 2007. Distance travelled: 1 734 km from Kisangani to Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo previously known as Belgian Congo and Zair).
Duration of Journey: 31 days. Mode of Transport: Belgian Built Four Engine Riverboat Pusher M.V. LUBERU. Captain: Thomas Mpetsi. Chief Mate: Jean Badibanga. Shipping
Company: ONATRA. Official Purpose of Journey: Company River Cargo Transport and Secondary Trade. Passage Fare: US $35. Passage Accommodation: 1
st
Class -
Converted ship’s galley. No meals, refreshments or entertainment included. Main Menu: Bananas, bottled water, biscuits and tinned fish. Personal Purpose of Journey: (1)
Anthropological Missionary Research and present day Survey of Isolated Communities along the Congo River and its numerous tributaries with focus upon life style, socio-
economic factors and the potential of river based agricultural and micro industry development co-operatives as part of a contextual and self-sustainable local and regional
economy that contribute to stable and joyous rural societies in central Africa regions. (2) Research for establishing a Mission Harbour and Medical Missions Riverboat. Partners
& Sponsors: Church and business as solicited. Authority for the Journey: The Great Commission.
Peripheral Information
Mode of Travel from Cape Town to Matadi: Passage on Commercial Cargo Ship MV JUTHA SIAM (Registered in Thailand) 10 days in May 2007 . Matadi to Kinshasa: by
Road. Kinshasa to Kisangani: Air Travel. Duration of Reporting and Administration in Kinshasa: 62 days. Main church partners as officially appointed by ECC: CBFC.
Level of Mission Difficulty overall: (Historically) Challenging (since the 15
th
Century). Development Progress for subsequent implementation of envisaged objectives in Medical
Missions and Local Agricultural and Related Enterprise Development: Slow – largely due to international apathy about the actual exploitive dynamics in the DRC, a spiritually
present yet practically absent church and excessive internal corruption. Singe Biggest Obstacle: The Isolation of Kisangani as potential central Africa Hub Port due to logistic
inaccessibility caused by the perpetually exploited and internationally condoned North and South Kivu Conflict Mineral Regions.
For more information about Johnny and Congo River Mission, please consider to consult www.congoriverboat.info and http://johnny-congo.branded.me

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Johnny’s Incredible Congo River Journey Photo Report
Passing Boma en route Matadi onboard
MV JUTHA SIAM
Johnny & crew members
MV JUTHA SIAM
Johnny & the Master of
MV JUTHA SIAM
Speaking at Church Conference in Matadi
“Angel” duty Shipping Agent in Matadi Angel volunteers & accommodation Angel family in Kinshasa Local planning meeting
Sharing in Kinshasa Civil Service Angel Benefactor First Congo River excursion A man that walked from a remote village to
come and tell me about an absent Gospel

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Angel accommodation Kinshasa NGO Planning Mission in Kisangani CBFC Clinic & Mission staff
Street scene in Kisangani ECC Regional Office Neglected International Academic
opportunities
ONATRA Harbour in Kisangani
Fishing harbour & market Kisangani Informal commercial harbour Kisangani Wagenia Rapids (Stanley Falls) My Riverboat cabin for 31 days

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Capable Riverboat Captain Thomas
& 1st
Mate Jean
My menu for 31 days Alternative Menu Option 1: Charred and
Smoked Crocodile
Alternative Menu Option 2: Dried River Fish
Grubs (served with Wild Spinach) “Mopani” Worms Catch of the Day Onboard A-la-Carte: Monkey or Fish Selection
All barges loaded up & 3rd
Class onboard Passing pusher & barge friends Entrepreneurial travel and business
alternatives: hardwood logs been pushed
downriver with passengers, pigs and goats
camping on top
Family transport on the Congo River, which
river in flood season can be up to 16 km wide.

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18 Million isolated people … … living along 14 000 km of … …riverbanks along the Congo … … River and its tributaries.
Informal traders coming alongside Informal traders paddling to intercept “Taxis” bring and fetch passangers Fisherman’s dugout canoe
Conference at Mbandaka Driver & transport in Mbandaka Informal river travel on cargo barges All inclusive informal business on passage

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In the windy Congo River channel towards
Kinshasa
Impressive ONATRA and Mining House
buildings in Kinshasa
Passenger terminal in Kinshasa Is the light of righteousness setting or rising on
isolated and exploited communities in the DR
Congo?
Appendix A – Riverboat Research
Artist’s impression of … … Medical Missions Riverboat … … and barge … … outreach and education concept.
Previous … … river workboat options … … researched since … … 2007.

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Scale model … … shipyard plans … … consulting sketches … … and shipyard visits.
Appendix B – Mission Harbour Research (Yakusu)
2010 survey … … of Yakusu riverbank … … below Yakusu Mission Hospital … … and buildings.
Appencix C – Reaching the Indigenous People along the banks of the Congo River
All tribes, tongues, … … nations … …and peoples … …display a yearning.

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Appendix D – Working towards open roads from Cape Town to Kisangani
Peace & Development Expedition Mountain road Uvira to Bukavu Livingstone Garden Guest House Serving in Mozambique
Appendix E – The Quest to find and Retain Brave Partners in Church and Business
Expo representative 2008

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Summary of Impressions & Appeal
Johnny’s Congo River Journey & missionary surveys in Southern-Africa confirmed research about the history of exploitation and disruption of
stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One would perhaps at least have expected, - in the presence of NGOs and at times,
neglected but persevering Christian Missions, - that a peaceful local society at ground level would be going about their own business, despite
the steadily imploding void after the Belgians had left the Belgian Congo in 1959.
Yet, constructive opportunity remains for those who want to bring about a sustainable socio economic model for ground level communities, also
referred to as the Bottom Billion in Africa, to press forward in poised purpose that actually manifests in tangible, realistic and established faith in
action towards fruit that last.
River Blindness, a manageable disease if health measures were routinely implemented, and unproductive isolation along the Congo River,
combined with the present and post-traumatic stress of exploitive brutality so visible in the psyche of the eastern Congo, leave unacceptably
large parts of central Africa regions critically under-developed. It might be labelled as a massive monument to the empty messages (but full
pockets) of the church, humanism, communism and greedy politics over the ages.
Will we, - in Christian unity, - at least take up the human but bold appeal of such as Dr. David Livingstone to help each other to suitably,
contextually and sustainably develop Africa as a very unique last continent?
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