### Insecurity and Urban Resilience: The Lemba Drama and its Repercussions
On the tragic night of January 12-13, 2025, a tragic news item disrupted the tranquility of the commune of Lemba, in Kinshasa. In the shadow of the celebrations for the Spanish Super Cup final, a young man in his thirties became the victim of a particularly brutal attack by a group of urban bandits known as Kulunas. This incident raises crucial questions about the reality of urban insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the mechanisms of solidarity and resilience that are emerging in the face of this growing violence.
#### Urban Violence: An Endemic Epidemic
The attack in Lemba, where the victim was mutilated for refusing to comply with the demands of the attackers, is emblematic of an alarming trend. According to reports from the police and human rights organizations, insecurity related to gangs, particularly the Kulunas, has increased significantly in recent years. A 2023 report indicated that nearly 60% of households in Kinshasa have already been victims of some form of delinquency. This phenomenon is not limited to physical violence alone; it is also a symptom of a deeper socio-economic crisis, marked by poverty and lack of opportunities.
#### Security Initiatives: Failure or Political Challenge?
Government operations such as “Ndobo” and “Zero Kuluna” are attempts to restore order and reassert state authority in the face of the threat posed by these gangs. However, the effectiveness of these approaches is being questioned. The victims are not just statistics; they represent broken lives, shattered dreams, and sometimes, entire families plunged into despair. The Minister of State for Justice, Mr. Constant Mutamba, was notified of this tragedy, but the institutional responses to these acts of violence raise the question of the State’s real capacity to protect its citizens.
#### Community Resilience: A Ray of Hope
In the face of this violence, the community’s spontaneous reaction can be seen as an essential act of solidarity. The volunteers who transported the victim to the Saint-Gabriel clinic illustrate a powerful community dynamic. In a context where institutions often fail to protect the population, collective resilience becomes essential. Building mutual aid networks within neighborhoods helps strengthen solidarity in the face of the indifference sometimes felt by the authorities.
#### Comparison with other African Cities
To better understand the situation of Lemba, a comparison with other African cities, such as Johannesburg (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya), demonstrates troubling parallels. These metropolises also suffer from exacerbated urban violence. Nevertheless, the establishment of community programs and the involvement of young people in economic and social development activities have led to a significant decrease in crime in certain neighborhoods. This raises questions about the capacity of Congolese institutions to implement long-term solutions that promote self-organization and citizen engagement against violence.
#### The Test of Time: A Collective Emergency
The situation in Lemba is not just an isolated story of violence; it is a mirror of the broader issues that plague the DRC. Public authorities are called upon to react urgently not only to punish the perpetrators but also to track down the root causes of this barbarity. The issue of economic, social and cultural rights must also be addressed to create an environment conducive to peace.
Thus, this tragic incident reminds us that insecurity is not simply a question of security policy, but a societal challenge. Citizen mobilization, cooperation between the state and civil society, and the creation of spaces for dialogue must become the norm to ensure truly shared security. The victim of Lemba, although seriously injured, represents all the voices that aspire to a better life in a peaceful environment, far from the clutches of the Kulunas and other urban gangs.
It is through this collective struggle for dignity, security, and justice that the DRC could hope to see a peaceful future emerge. Ultimately, each tragedy reveals not only the vulnerability of our society, but also the potential for renewal and resilience that we all have within us.