Transportation is limited to river, road, and air, with river transportation the most important for movement of freight. Some 900 km (559 mi) of the 7,080 km (4,400 mi) of inland waterways are navigable year-round, including the Ubangi River up to Bangui, and the Sangha to Nola, 100 km (62 mi) north of the Congo border. The important Oubangui River route leads to the Zaire River port of Brazzaville, Congo, where a rail line travels to the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire. The Lobaye and several tributaries of the Chari and Logone rivers are partly navigable, but service is irregular during the dry season. The port of Kilongo (at Bangui) is the largest in the country. Both Kilongo and the port of Nola are being enlarged to accommodate steadily increasing maritime traffic.
In 2002, the country had 23,810 km (14,796 mi) of roads, of which only 429 km (267 mi) were paved. A rehabilitation project, begun in 1974 and completed ten years later, centered on three highways running north, west, and south from Nola. Some 5,300 passenger cars and 6,300 commercial vehicles were in use in 2000. There are no railroads.
In 2001, there were 51 airports, 3 of which had paved runways. There is an international airport at Bangui-Mpoko. Five airlines provide international transport. The Republic is also a partner in Air Afrique. Inter-RCA provides domestic service. In 2001, 46,400 passengers were carried on domestic and international flights.
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