Port Brazzaville

Yoro harbour is an Enclave at the end of Mpila. The place is named after Yéro Thiam, Senegalese owner in the 1950 s of the land where the port is established. Its isolated situation in the city centre by the deposits of beverages, hydrocarbons and old shipyards gives the curious impression of leaving the capital. A point, planted in the middle of a small roundabout with the inscription «Saint Tropez», can lead to an abuse of palm or tropical heat. In the port area where a large fish market is being held, the detritus of the streets shows the intense activity of the place. The port, past a customs station that looks like a cabane hut abandoned, is installed along a cove at the confluence of the Tsieme and Congo. A few dozen canoes are moored there. Mpila was, before French colonization, a téké village and a prosperous port of commerce. The last colonial leader of the village, Mbankwa, died in 1916 and was buried here. His grave, characterized by an opening to nourish the spirit of the deceased by offering, in agreement with batéké mortuary rites, is now forgotten. Close to the old shipyards.

This is where goods and passengers embark for Kinshasa. The Autonomous Port is divided into three zones: after passing through the gantry, you arrive at the boarding area, where you take the fast pirogues. The crossing takes a few minutes in good conditions, but boarding can take up to two hours. Passengers crowd in at the arrival or departure time, laden with whatever can be negotiated. A foretaste of the crossing as experienced daily by merchants between the two capitals.