On Wednesday, August 9th, an impactful decision was unveiled by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Peter Kazadi, responsible for Interior, Security, and Customary Affairs, a pivotal strategy was announced during a high-profile meeting with the leadership cadre of the Congolese national police. The strategy entails the recruitment of a substantial cohort of 13,000 additional personnel, aimed not only at bolstering the national police force but also reinforcing the civil protection apparatus.
It is a response from the authorities as neighborhood gangs and other forms of insecurity have taken hold in both cities and rural areas. For Peter Kazadi, it is to strengthen security that these 13,000 police officers will be recruited. The “Kuluna” phenomenon, neighborhood gangs, has firmly established itself in the capital and several regions of the country.
Real Cops Charged
In addition to this, there have been recent incidents of kidnappings followed by murders in Kinshasa and attacks in the suburbs of major cities like Lubumbashi. Among the group of perpetrators, particularly those implicated in the kidnappings, actual police officers who were apprehended and are undergoing legal proceedings stand out. Some of them conducted their activities using forged documents, including arrest warrants that hold no recognition by the authorities. The narrative also highlights individuals who have infiltrated the police and remain unidentified as of yet.
For many observers, the recruitments announced in the ranks of the national police will have to meet rigorous criteria of good citizenship. And the agents will undergo adequate training.