Scientific mission in the karstic region in Kongo Central- DRC
The Kongo-2025.06 mission in the Mbanza-Ngungu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is an expedition carried out in collaboration between the team of scientists from the GeoRes4Dev-RMCA project and a team of geologists from the Kongo area of GeoRes4Dev-UNKIN-UMNG, as well as the participation an italian team of speleologists.
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nadège Ngala, a geologist from the Geological and Mining Research Center (DRC); Jeaney Lusongo a geologist from UNKIN; Jojo Mazama, an archeologist from the Geographical Institute of Congo (IGC);
From the Republic of the Congo, Nicy Bazebizonza and Jemima Bounkouta, geologists and PhD students from Marien Ngouabi University,
The team of scientists from the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium, consists of:
Pascale Lahogue: Project promoter of GeoRes4Dev. Geologist specialized in geological databases, geological mapping, and karst studies.
Imen Arfaoui: Responsible for scientific communication of the GeoRes4Dev project. Geologist specialized in limestone sedimentology and karst studies.
The team of cave explorers, from LA VENTA, consists of:
SPITALERI Giuseppe: Speleology technician and expedition leader,
DE LUCA Riccardo: Professional videographer and drone pilot,
BOLDRINI Gaetano: Speleology technician and photographer,
PETRIGANI Paolo: Photographer and drone pilot,
MARZIONI Luca et IMPERIO Luca:Speleology technicians,
The mission focused on continuing the exploration of the Mbanza Ngungu cave systems while also introducing new archaeology fellows from UNIKIN and UMNG, enrolled in a DEA degree program, as part of a South–South collaboration. Field activities involved updating previously recorded topographies, carrying out new explorations, collecting samples for biocorrosion studies, and gathering data and materials essential for long-term cave monitoring. The team also produced a rich photographic record to illustrate the ongoing work and support future publications.
As part of the collaboration with La Venta, the expedition extended into the Ngovo caves, where more than 100 meters of new galleries were mapped. And they documented the mission through photography and video, ensuring that both the exploration and the scientific research being conducted in the Mbanza Ngungu area are carefully recorded and shared.
The presence of archaeologists Igor Roland MATONDA SAKALA from the Department of Historical Sciences, Heritage Management and Development of the University of Kinshasa and Isis Isabella MESFIN from the National Center for Scientific Research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, specialists in archeology in Africa, with a research project for Stone Age material, in 2 of the caves that we are studying, allowed interesting exchanges with complementary visions on them.
These international missions within the GeoRes4Dev project demonstrate the importance of collaboration between Congolese and European scientists from various disciplines to explore and understand the geological and karst riches of Central Africa. They constitute interdisciplinary research opportunities that can lead to the preservation of the underground environment and the sustainable development of the region.
