**Kinshasa: Between tensions, popular demands and diplomatic reality**
In the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, the recent events of January 28, 2025, marked by violent demonstrations and acts of vandalism, plunge the population into a complex dynamic, where expectations are as numerous as frustrations. Under the leadership of Governor Daniel Bumba, a call is made for peace and responsibility. But behind these statements lies a much more nuanced reality, revealing internal political tensions exacerbated by persistent regional conflicts.
The call for peaceful demonstrations to denounce the security situation in eastern DRC highlights an essential question: what is the place of the people in geopolitical discussions and diplomatic decisions? As Congolese people express their discontent with the presence of Rwandan forces and M23 insurgents, voices are being raised about the apparent ineffectiveness of international structures in resolving crises. This disenchantment may explain the directional anger of the protesters, who sometimes wrongly attack embassies, expressing frustration with a system perceived as cowardly or distant.
The demonstrations, which took place in front of several embassies, including those of the United States, France and Rwanda, reveal a recurring phenomenon in societies in crisis: the surge of the troubled waters of popular activism. These are not simply cries of anger, but desperate appeals to the international community to actually take the necessary measures to stabilize the region. In this regard, the violence of the acts may partly result from a misunderstanding of international mechanisms, where populations feel ignored and stifled by diplomatic dialectics that they do not control.
In comparison, other social movements across the African continent, such as the 2019 protests in Sudan to end authoritarian rule, show that the involvement of the international community can be decisive. In this case, popular mobilization led to significant reforms, but this only happens when these actions are supported by appropriate diplomatic pressure. Which raises the question: where does the lack of ownership of popular VOICES in international bodies concerning the DRC come from?
Provincial interior ministers justified the continued ban on protests because of the damage and looting. From a public order perspective, can this act not be seen as a form of repression against a voice that seeks to express itself through means it deems appropriate? A more nuanced approach could lead to consultation with social movements so that these frustrations are channeled into more constructive forms of expression.
From a statistical point of view, it is important to mention that incidents of violence during demonstrations in Kinshasa are not an exception, but rather a trend observed in several countries facing protracted political crises. According to a report by Amnesty International, 50% of demonstrations in African countries often degenerated into violence between 2019 and 2022, leading to repercussions on both society and diplomacy.
Furthermore, securing embassies and diplomatic missions in a context of tension is essential, not only to protect foreign representatives, but also to restore the confidence of nations in the DRC. The fact that the US embassy has decided to close its doors indicates a situation that is sufficiently worrying to prompt the authorities to redouble their efforts in terms of security, beyond mere speeches.
This saga of demonstrations and tensions in Kinshasa therefore recalls not only the need for a constructive and inclusive dialogue between the authorities and the population, but also the importance of proactive engagement on the part of the international community. A reflection must be conducted on how to truly integrate the voices of those who experience the consequences of geopolitical decisions into diplomatic processes. This requires a paradigm shift where States, rather than repressing, listen, analyze and respond to the expectations of their citizens.
Finally, while calm seems temporarily restored in Kinshasa, the testimonies of the Congolese resonate as a pressing invitation to rebuild a system where popular aspirations are at the heart of strategic reflections on peace and security. Today, Kinshasa cannot be reduced to its demonstrations, but must be seen as a mirror of the deep aspirations of a people in search of dignity, security and recognition on the international scene.