Mbulungu Airport

The closure was not due to a specific event but rather a gradual decline. The primary reasons are believed to be a combination of economic factors and a lack of maintenance. Many remote, colonial-era airstrips in the DRC were abandoned as the local economies they supported (such as specific plantations or mining operations) declined and as the central government or private entities could no longer afford the upkeep of such remote infrastructure. Regional instability and conflict in the DRC have also contributed to the decay of transportation networks.

The site is completely abandoned and non-functional. Satellite imagery from the coordinates (-6.039547, 21.888542) shows the faint but clear outline of a former runway that is now heavily overgrown with grass, shrubs, and signs of erosion. The land appears to be reverting to savanna and is potentially used for local, small-scale agriculture. There are no visible buildings, hangars, or any other aviation infrastructure remaining.

Mbulungu Airport was a basic, unpaved airstrip, more accurately described as a bush strip. Its significance was purely local. It was likely built to serve a specific purpose, such as providing access for a missionary station, a colonial administrative post, or a commercial agricultural plantation (e.g., for cotton or palm oil). Operations would have been limited to small, STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, like Cessna or Piper bush planes, carrying light cargo, mail, and personnel. It served as a vital link for the remote Mbulungu community before the local road network was developed or when it was impassable.

There are no known or published plans to reopen Mbulungu Airport. The prospect of reopening is extremely low. It would require significant investment to clear, regrade, and restore the runway, as well as a renewed and sustainable economic or humanitarian need for an airstrip at this specific location. Given the numerous abandoned airstrips in the country and limited resources, any efforts would likely be focused on more strategically important regional airports.