**New approach and reflection on the issuance of identity cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo**
A year ago, an announcement full of promise resounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo: the launch of the new identity card by the National Identification Office (ONIP). An initiative aimed at modernizing and simplifying administrative formalities for Congolese citizens. Legitimate aspirations were then awakened within the population, ready to obtain this symbolic piece of their identity.
However, today, voices are being raised to express dissatisfaction and indignation at the delays and dysfunctions that mar this process. If a privileged few have already received their card, the majority of citizens are still waiting, torn between hope and frustration.
At the heart of this observation is the poignant testimony of Kim, the mechanic, who impatiently awaited this administrative sesame. His driving license having expired, the identity card would have been a breath of fresh air in his daily procedures. But the reality is quite different, between promising announcements and disappointing reality.
In the same vein, engineer Alain shares his bitterness in the face of what seemed to be a historic event for the country. Between disappointed hopes and feelings of abandonment, he aptly expresses the dismay of a population in search of identity and recognition.
And what can we say about this nurse, about to leave for a new life abroad, whose dream of brandishing her Congolese nationality is delayed by this heavy silence from ONIP? A legitimate frustration mixes with incomprehension, revealing the flaws of a system plagued by regrettable shortcomings.
Through these poignant testimonies, a whole section of Congolese society is faced with a major challenge: access to an identity document, a symbol of citizenship and dignity. Because beyond the simple administrative formality, it is a question of identity and belonging that is at stake here, at the heart of everyone’s concerns.
Faced with this worrying situation, the National Identification Office must take concrete and transparent measures to reassure the population and guarantee fair access to this long-awaited identity card. Because beyond empty promises and intermittent announcements, it is the confidence of citizens that is at stake, as well as the image of an administration concerned with the well-being of its population.
It is therefore urgent to re-establish a constructive and transparent dialogue with citizens, to offer them clear answers and concrete solutions to overcome current obstacles.. Because beyond the delays and dysfunctions, it is the confidence and hope of a nation that are weakened, and whose reconstruction requires better management and a renewed commitment to its citizens.
In short, the issuance of identity cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo cannot be reduced to a simple administrative formality, but must reflect a political and social will to recognize and value each citizen in their diversity and dignity. . It is time to move from words to action, and to restore to this symbol of identity all its meaning and value for the future of the Congolese nation.