On June 6, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, expressed his dismay at the resurgence of armed robberies and hold-ups in the city of Kinshasa and several other towns in the country. Concerned by the situation, the Head of State announced a number of measures, including the reinforcement of security operations throughout Kinshasa’s urban territory, the intensification of patrols and increased surveillance in sensitive areas, particularly during rush hour, and a visible increase in the number of police and military personnel along the main roads.
Faced with an upsurge in armed robberies in the major cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President, Félix Tshisekedi, expressed his indignation on 6 June 2025 at the 46ᵉ ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers. The Head of State deplored the frequency and worrying audacity of these criminal acts, which occur in broad daylight in residential areas, on main roads, near supermarkets and public establishments.
Does Félix Tshisekedi have enough military resources to deal with what is happening in the east of his country, which is on a massive scale, and also to deal with the major banditry in Kinshasa, which has been recurring for over 30 years, with these bandits, called Kuluna, existing without anything being done. Does he have enough military resources to be able to deal with them? I think that’s going to be a problem, and there’s a risk that it was just an announcement.
Sadio Morel KANTÉ , Political analyst
Concerned by the situation, the Head of State has announced measures that include stepping up security operations throughout Kinshasa’s urban territory, stepping up patrols and surveillance in sensitive areas, particularly during rush hour, and a visible increase in the number of police and military personnel along the main roads.
Among the solutions proposed by Félix, there is no political offer for the economic and professional integration of these young people. As long as there are no proposals of this kind, banditry will flourish and the police and military will be powerless. Because they will sometimes side with the young people to do the same thing, and this situation, where the army or the police side with banditry, has not changed in the DRC since the dawn of time.
For several years now, the Kuluna phenomenon in DR Congo has been spreading terror and insecurity in the major cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly Kinshasa. Despite a multitude of police operations, these organised gangs continue to defy the authorities and wreak havoc on the population. Launched by the Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralisation and Affairs, Jacquemain Shabani, the ‘Ndobo’ operation aims to eradicate this scourge.
