** Mystery and indignation: the tragic death of a police officer in Kinshasa raises deep questions about institutional violence **
The drama that occurred in Kinshasa at the start of the weekend, with the death of the 1st class brigadier Kabeya Senda Fiston, highlights structural issues deeply anchored in the Congolese security body. This tragic death, which occurred in troubled circumstances, not only shaken the foundations of confidence between citizens and the police, but also reflects broader tensions within the Congolese National Police (PNC).
### A context of increasing tensions
To understand this affair, it is essential to replace yourself in the current socio-political context of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The climate of insecurity reigns in several areas of the country, coupled with sporadic demonstrations against power, generates increased susceptibility within the police. Indeed, the police ‘commitment to manage increasingly complex situations-between maintenance of order, protection of political personalities, and regulation of civic behavior-can be perceived as a source of internal conflicts, even rivalries within the police itself.
The case of Brigadier Kabeya, who would have been arrested after a stormy exchange with agents assigned to the security of the Prime Minister, illustrates this dynamic. The fact that members of the road traffic police are confronted with police officers on a close protection mission reveals a lack of operational coordination, as well as sometimes chaotic human resources management.
### The nature of institutional violence
The PNC qualified these events as “disinformation” while promising that “military justice is seized” to investigate the death of Kabeya. However, the most worrying component remains the climate of fear and distrust that permeates the rows of the police. If the official version evokes an accident death or disorders linked to an arrest, other testimonies evoke deliberate violence. A video, now viral, of a policeman saying that his colleague was killed by trying to intercept an official procession for a road offense fueling this theory.
This complexity raises a fundamental question: is there real respect for human life within institutions supposed to guarantee our security? Isn’t Kabeya ‘death reflect an institutional culture where violence becomes a systematic response to conflicts, as minor they may be?
### A look at figures: police violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Statistics on police violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo are alarming. According to several reports of non -governmental organizations, almost 50% of Congolese say they have witnessed or victims of human rights violations by the police. The abuses, whether physical or psychological, have become a disturbing constant.
This illustrates Grillent is also a problem of supervision and training for agents. Congolese police, although often put forward as a safety tool, suffers from a lack of ethics, adequate training, and regular institutional support. These shortcomings can create a culture where violence is not only perceptible but, in some cases, necessary to enforce higher directives.
### Call for transformation
The death of Kabeya Senda Fiston is a crucial opportunity to reassess the structures in place within the PNC. Beyond the simple judicial response expected, it is imperative to tackle the roots of this institutional violence. The modernization of training protocols, the revaluation of internal dialogue within the police, and the involvement of citizens in the security decision -making processes are promising routes.
Change cannot be made without an assertive political will and a determined commitment to build a police force that respects human rights. The PNC must become a model of transparency and responsibility, synonymous with protection and not of oppression. This depends only on all actors, including civil society and the international community, to put pressure on a lasting and necessary change.
### Conclusion
Thus, the tragic death of Brigadier Kabeya can serve as a catalyst for a broader understanding of the challenges faced by PNC. It is an opportunity to raise broader questions about justice, security, and human dignity in a country still in search of peace. Let us remain vigilant in the face of these realities, and hope that the light will be made on this drama, not only to do justice to Kabeya, but to prevent other lives from being sacrificed on the altar of an institutional culture.