** Kinshasa prey to bad weather: a tragedy revealing the challenges of infrastructure and urban resilience **
During the night of April 5 to 6, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was struck by torrential rains which caused catastrophic floods, particularly affecting the town of Mont-Ngafula. These tragic events are not only the result of a capricious weather, but highlight structural vulnerabilities and critical socio-environmental issues that the city must face urgently.
### Humans and infrastructure in danger
The human record of this disaster is tragic. Several lives have been lost while many households have been reduced to nothing. The districts like N’Djili Kilambu and Vermane, which the unexpected rise in waters has ravaged, illustrate how the city’s infrastructure are in a disturbing dilapidation state. This situation was exacerbated by the inadequacy of drainage systems, poorly designed and often obstructed, which cannot bear the growing trends in precipitation.
According to the National Institute of Meteorology, Kinshasa has recorded among the highest precipitation levels of the last two decades, alerting to an in progress climate change. In 2022, rains in the rainy season had already created a similar crisis, causing damage estimated at more than $ 500 million for the city. This raises the crucial question: why has the city not yet intensified its efforts to modernize its infrastructure, at the risk of condemning thousands of rehearsal citizens of human dramas?
### The commitment of political representation: beyond promises
Faced with desolation, the reaction of the quaestor of the Provincial Assembly of Kinshasa, Hervé Socrates Mubengaie, deserves to be examined not only in the prism of the solidarity he expressed, but also of the tangible results that this could generate. His presence on the ground is a laudable gesture, but he also calls for a question of political responsibility. The promises of infrastructure rehabilitation reveal the gap between administrative decisions and their effective implementation. The construction of a bridge to link the isolated districts of Vermane and N’Djili Kilambu, as promised by Mubengaie, must be accompanied by a global flood management and floods plan.
### Self -determination of the population: resilience to the test
In parallel with political actions, it is interesting to analyze the way in which citizens react to these tragedies. The resilience of the Kinshasaise community manifests itself through local initiatives, whether it is solidarity groups that are organized to distribute aid or awareness campaigns on waste management to prevent clogging of evacuation systems. These popular movements, although evidence, are not enough in themselves without systemic support and solid government structures.
A study by the NGO Humanitarian Relief Fund showed that 60% of humanitarian interventions in urban areas come from community initiatives. In the informal economy that characterizes a good part of Kinshasa, the city could take advantage of these dynamics by supporting community autonomy, thus catalyzing a faster and more inclusive change.
### The need for a long -term vision
The tragic events of Mont-Ngafula should not only be perceived as isolated disasters, but rather as episodes revealing a lack of anticipation in the face of the challenges of Kinshasa’s rapid urbanization. To prevent such tragedies from reproducing, it is essential to adopt an integrative approach that includes ecological solutions, reflected urban planning and participatory governance.
Natural disasters will test our ability to adapt to us, but also our desire to invest in the future where the life of city dwellers will no longer be constantly threatened by elements of which they have not been the victims too often. The moment to act came. The change remains possible, but it requires a reinforced collective commitment coupled with daring political decisions.
It is alone in the unit that Kinshasa will be able to straighten and revive the ashes of the floods, forging a model of resilience which could inspire other metropolises confronted with similar challenges.