News: Increase in insecurity in Kinshasa: Tracking down street children
On the morning of Saturday July 8, a tense situation broke out at the intersection of Boulevard du 30 juin and Avenue Kasa-Vubu, in front of the OCPT in the commune of Gombe in Kinshasa. The population mobilized to hunt down street children, more commonly known as “Shegués”, who had committed theft.
It all started with the violent theft of a passer-by’s phone by one of these young delinquents who immediately took refuge in the sewers of Boulevard du 30 juin, used as their hiding place.
Witnesses to this heinous act, people present on the scene decided to frame the entrance to the sewer to prevent the thief from fleeing. For nearly 45 minutes, the hunt was intense and resulted in the extraction of “Shegué” as well as 8 of his accomplices, including a young girl, aged between 10 and 14 years old.
Unfortunately, instead of waiting for the arrival of the police, the population engaged in acts of lynching against these street children. It was not until 10:15 a.m. that the police intervened to arrest them and take them to their vehicle.
The “Shegués”, a recurring problem in Kinshasa
The inhabitants of downtown Kinshasa live daily with the massive presence of street children, who roam along the Boulevard du 30 juin, in front of supermarkets, taxi parks and bus stops.
These children, aged around 6 to 15, operate in groups of up to ten members, particularly at traffic lane separators. They solicit alms from motorists when the red light stops traffic. Unfortunately, these moments of generosity often turn into fights when misunderstandings arise when sharing the money received.
These same children take advantage of the slightest distraction to commit theft, in particular of telephones, briefcases, handbags, jewelry or even watches, before disappearing into the sewers which serve as their refuge.
A threat to the safety and tranquility of the inhabitants
Once night falls, these “masters” of Gombe enforce their rule and create a climate of insecurity for all passers-by, especially young girls and women.
This worrying situation highlights the need for urgent action to combat this scourge. The authorities must take concrete measures to protect the population and to offer lasting solutions to street children, in order to reintegrate them into society and offer them a better future.
In conclusion, the increase in insecurity in Kinshasa, caused in particular by the presence of street children, is a problem that must be taken seriously. It is essential to put in place effective measures to ensure the safety and tranquility of the inhabitants of the city