Ruzizi II One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) Infrastructure Upgrade

The Ruzizi II border is one of the principal trade crossings between Rwanda and DRC and the main heavy truck gateway for goods moving between Rusizi and Bukavu. It also sits at the heart of a much wider small scale trading economy with more than 90% of small scale trade between the two countries passing through Goma/Rubavu and Bukavu/Rusizi crossings. As a primary artery for heavy cargo and high-volume trade in the Great Lakes region, its modernization is essential for regional stability and economic integration. It also sits at the heart of a much wider small-scale trading economy: more than 90 per cent of small-scale trade between the two countries passes through the Goma/Rubavu and Bukavu/Rusizi crossings, and Bukavu/Rusizi alone accounts for more than a third of Rwanda’s informal cross-border trade with the DRC. Research also shows that an estimated 4,600 people cross daily at Ruzizi II to exchange goods and services. By 2018, the Ruzizi II crossing had become a major bottleneck due to decades of underinvestment. The intervention was necessitated by several factors:

• Ailing Infrastructure: The historical bridge (built between 1908–1920) and deteriorated approach roads were unable to safely support the increasing volume of heavy goods vehicles, leading to chronic congestion and safety risks.
• Administrative Inefficiency: Fragmented border controls and the lack of a One-Stop system resulted in unpredictable delays and high operational costs for transporters, reducing the competitiveness of regional goods.
• Vulnerability of Small-Scale Traders: Thousands of traders-predominantly women-operated in informal, roadside spaces. The absence of basic shelter, storage, and sanitation facilities exposed them to economic exploitation, physical insecurity, and health risks.