Street children, hunted down and punished in the sewers of Kinshasa
This morning of Saturday, July 8, around 9 a.m., a violent incident shook the intersection of Boulevard du 30 juin and Avenue Kasa-Vubu, in front of the OCPT in the commune of Gombe in Kinshasa. A young delinquent, belonging to a group of street children commonly known as “Shegués”, stole a passer-by’s phone before taking refuge in the sewers of Boulevard du 30 juin.
Alerted by this heinous act, the population mobilized to track down the thief and his accomplices, chasing them to their entrenchment in the sewers. After more than 45 minutes of tracking, the “Shegué” and eight of his companions were extracted from their hiding place, with ages ranging from 10 to 14 years old, and a girl among them. The mob was not contained and lynched them before the police arrived, who took them all away.
This sad incident highlights the strong comeback of street children, who rage daily in downtown Kinshasa. These young people, aged around 6 to 15, operate in groups, soliciting alms from motorists and taking advantage of the slightest distraction to commit theft. Their base of retreat is often in the sewers, allowing them to evade any arrest.
The massive presence of these “masters” of the street greatly worries the inhabitants of Gombe, who submit to their law and live in constant insecurity. Robberies and muggings are commonplace, especially at night when these children take over the streets.
It is urgent for the authorities to take measures to protect the population from acts of violence perpetrated by these street children. Actions of prevention, social reintegration and education are necessary to give them a chance to move away from delinquency and find a better path in society.
It is also important to sensitize the population on the consequences of lynching and violence, which only aggravate the problem without providing lasting solutions.
Securing public spaces, improving the living conditions of the poorest and collaboration between the various social actors are key elements in responding to this complex challenge.
In conclusion, the fight against the phenomenon of street children in Kinshasa must be approached in a comprehensive way, combining repressive, preventive and social support measures. Only an integrated approach will be able to restore the streets of Kinshasa to the security and tranquility they need