Flash of progress on Avenue Bayardelle
Night travellers along Avenue Bayardelle no longer squint through darkness. In a ceremony held this week, Colonel-Major Michel Innocent Peya pressed the switch on a network of sleek LED lamps that now line the historic artery of Brazzaville, illuminating nearly one kilometre of roadway.
Local daily Les Dépêches de Brazzaville reports that more than eighty lamp posts were installed in under two months, a feat made possible by a partnership between private sponsors and municipal technicians, overseen by the colonel’s foundation.
Safety and prestige after dark
The avenue links the diplomatic quarter to the University of Bayardelle campus, a stretch once notorious for potholes and pitch-black corners. Motorists spoke of thefts and minor accidents that rose sharply after sunset, according to a note from the city’s public-security department.
With the new lights, police say patrols can focus on prevention rather than emergency response. “Visibility deters wrongdoing and reassures our citizens,” summarised Lieutenant Arsène Ndounga, head of the night brigade, when interviewed during the switch-on event.
Embassies located nearby also welcomed the move. A spokesperson for the African Union mission called the brighter street “an elegant showcase for visitors stepping off the plane and driving straight into the heart of town”.
A former student giving back
Michel Innocent Peya studied economics at the adjacent faculty in the 1990s. He credits the institution with shaping his career in the armed forces and public administration. “Lighting the avenue is my way of saying thank you,” he told reporters (Radio Congo).
The officer financed part of the work from personal funds and rallied local suppliers for discounted rates on fixtures, cables and renewable power units. Panels mounted on each pole feed solar energy into the grid, trimming municipal electricity bills.
Campus rector Professor Henriette Makosso applauded the gesture. She noted that evening classes had been ending earlier for safety reasons. “Now our schedules can return to normal, and research labs may run later,” she said.
Aligned with national modernisation
The project dovetails with President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s drive to modernise urban infrastructure, prioritising safe, well-lit public spaces. Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso recently urged citizens to become “co-architects” of development. Observers see Colonel Peya’s action as a textbook example.
The Ministry of the Interior, led by Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou, supervised compliance standards. Engineers used corrosion-resistant poles and 50-watt LEDs designed for equatorial climates, echoing the government’s sustainable-energy targets set at COP27.
“Brazzaville can, and must, join the league of African capitals where residents walk at night without fear,” commented urbanist Mireille Mabiala, noting similar lighting schemes in Kigali and Abidjan.
Voices from the avenue
Taxi driver Jonas Kinzoulou noticed immediate change. “My passengers no longer hesitate to board after nine o’clock. The road feels alive,” he laughed while adjusting his rear-view mirror under the new glare.
Second-year student Carine Samba recalled group studies interrupted by darkness. “Power cuts inside the dorms still happen, but at least the walk back is safe,” she said, suggesting campus generators as the next priority.
Street vendor Mama Pauline, who sells grilled fish near the main gate, reported a 30 percent rise in evening sales in the first week. “Light brings customers, and customers bring life,” she concluded with a broad smile.
What comes next for citywide illumination
City hall plans to extend the model to three additional corridors—Corniche Sud, Moukondo Boulevard and Avenue du Port—subject to budget approval in the 2024 supplementary finance bill.
Colonel-Major Peya hinted his foundation might replicate the solar-hybrid design. “Our duty goes beyond Bayardelle. Every neighbourhood deserves brightness and security,” he said, echoing the administration’s pledge to leave no district behind.
A symbol shining beyond the bulbs
More than an upgrade of street furniture, the gleaming lamps testify to a civic spirit that blends private initiative with public policy. Each diode underscores a narrative of hope, responsibility and progress championed by the Congolese leadership.
As dusk settles over Brazzaville, Avenue Bayardelle now glows like a welcome sign, guiding students to knowledge, diplomats to dialogue and residents to a safer, prouder capital.
