** Floods in Kinshasa: an announced cataclysm, a reality avoided **
The tragic floods that occurred during the night of April 4 to 5, 2025 in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lift more than just indignation in the face of a natural disaster. With a human assessment of at least thirty deaths and material losses of an unprecedented magnitude, this event highlights a painful inability to anticipate and prevent disasters, revealing a breathless system.
### ** An ignored predictability: systematic alert to inaction **
It is alarming to note that, despite the alerts issued by the National Meteorology and Satellite remote sensing agency (Mettelsat) in February 2025, local authorities did not take the necessary measures to anticipate the disaster. This lack of responsiveness is symptomatic of a gap between scientific knowledge on climatic phenomena and concrete actions of the rulers. Mettelsat had planned excess rains, but this notice came up against structural constraints and an inexplicable bureaucracy which seem to paralyze the implementation of effective solutions.
The management of disasters in the DRC is a thorny subject: the execution of credits allocated for these situations has never exceeded 30% in recent years, with exceptions in 2016 and 2017. What justifies this failure? A ineffective management of public resources or an inability to prioritize preparation in the face of natural disasters? Verdicts and conclusions, carried by analysts and experts in public management, often point to a lack of long -term planning.
### ** Emergency of an adapted infrastructure **
Experts from the Congo’s Water Resource Research Center highlight the crucial importance of investment in a hydrometeorological observation network. At a time when the whole world is trying to counter the effects of climate change, Kinshasa must learn from his mistakes. The construction of monitoring and early alert equipment on rivers and risk areas can differentiate between life and death. By not equipping itself with follow -up stations, the city has remained in the dark, unable to prioritize the evacuation of vulnerable areas.
The challenge is twofold: not only is it about installing these infrastructure, but also for training staff to cope with these dramatic situations. A study by the World Meteorological Organization reveals that investing in preventive meteorological networks, especially in Africa, could reduce the cost of emergency interventions by up to 10 times the initial amount of investment. It is therefore urgent that political decision -makers become aware of this statistic to change their approach.
### ** Anarchic urbanization: another catastrophe factor **
If the intensity of the rains is at the origin of the floods, the way in which Kinshasa has developed – often outside of any form of urban planning – also plays a major role in the extent of the damage. Rivers and their natural ecosystem have been seriously affected by anarchic urbanization, which has led to a reduction in their ability to drain water. According to Didier Mumengi, a researcher at the University of Kinshasa, it is estimated that the Kinshasa rivers have lost up to 60% of their bed due to the indiscriminate construction.
The response of the authorities in the face of these urban planning problems remains limited and often centered on temporary solutions, thus exacerbating the destructive cycle between wild urbanization and natural disasters. A more rigorous control of constructions and a sustainable development policy are urgently imposed. Failure to cause populations to environmentally friendly practices in the city is also essential with a view to long -term prevention.
### ** A fundamental reflection: towards an inclusive model of crisis management **
Kinshasa’s floods also illustrate a crisis of participatory democracy: civil society, under the thumb of insufficient legislation, is often relayed in the background, despite its potential contributions to innovative solutions. Voices rising to request accounts must be heard. Organizations such as the Observatory of Public Expenditure (ODEP) recall the need for a dialogue between the population, the players in the field and the government.
The creation of a crisis management system that involves citizens as active actors in prevention is imperative. This referencing in civic participation could change mentalities in the face of disasters. A participative management model, such as those observed in Latin America, could make it possible to create a regular communication mechanism between local authorities and citizens, leading to better anticipation of crises.
### ** Conclusion: The time for action is now **
The tragedy of Kinshasa floods calls for serious introspection and daring choices today. An investment in infrastructure, reflected urban planning, and a revision of the role of citizens in disaster management are all sine qua non conditions to avoid such dramas in the future. This cataclysm has not only ravaged lives, but also revealed structural shortcomings which, if they remain unpaid, will return the DRC vulnerable to the ever -increasing whims of nature.
In the long term, resilience to disasters is not just a question of preparation, but a political choice of real priorities. The lessons learned from the Kinshasa floods must open the way to a courageous and lasting reform which could well change the face of the management of natural disasters in the region.