** Title: Towards a reinforced collaboration between the police and the population in the Kongo Central **
On June 2, 2025, the province of Kongo Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo was the scene of a significant declaration of its new provincial commissioner, Bertin Yawe Sumanda. During a meeting with the governor, the commissioner highlighted the need for increased cooperation between the security forces and the local population to deal with the insecurity that seems to be ganging the region. This position raises several questions about the security dynamics in urban and rural areas and the crucial role that the communities can play in this struggle.
### A shared observation: growing insecurity
The security situation in the central Kongo, as in other DRC provinces, has deteriorated in recent years. Miscellaneous facts such as armed robbery, attacks and other forms of violence are increasing. This has led the new administration to review its security strategy by emphasizing citizen participation. Commissioner Yawe expressed these concerns by stressing that sources of insecurity can come from “our own children, our neighbors, or even our knowledge”. This observation highlights the dilemma that many communities face, namely how to effectively fight against a threat that can emanate from within the community.
### The need for collaboration
The call for collaboration between the Congolese National Police (PNC) and citizens is an essential aspect of the security strategy mentioned by the Commissioner. In theory, this approach can strengthen the bond of trust between the police and the inhabitants. By promoting an open dialogue, it is possible to create an environment where citizens feel not only in safety, but also involved in preserving their own environment.
### Educating the community
However, for this collaboration to be truly effective, several factors must be taken into account. One of the major challenges lies in citizen education. How to encourage residents to denounce suspicious acts without fear of reprisals or to be stigmatized? Awareness and information here play a crucial role. Organizing awareness sessions on the need to report suspicious behavior and the positive consequences of such cooperation could represent a first step towards a necessary and beneficial cultural change.
### Confidence in question
Another factor to consider is the confidence that the community places in the security forces. Historically, the relationship between the PNC and the citizens could be tumultuous, punctuated by cases of corruption or abuse of power. How then to establish an authentic partnership in such a climate of distrust? To move forward, it would be relevant for local authorities to work to establish mechanisms of empowerment and transparency within the police. This could help restore confidence between the inhabitants and their protectors.
### to a collaborative future
The determination expressed by Commissioner Yawe to strengthen the security of the central Kongo by a partnership with the communities is reassuring. In order to become a reality, it is crucial to develop concrete and achievable strategies, which include the training of police officers on community dynamics and the implementation of structures where citizens can report information in a secure manner.
The mutual responsibility between the population and the security forces seems essential. By working together, it is possible to build sustainable security which makes it possible to overcome current obstacles. The security field, a real reflection of the company, nevertheless calls for a reflected and collective response, which leaves no one aside. At the end of this first meeting, it would be beneficial to follow the evolution of this collaboration and its impact on the daily lives of the inhabitants of Kongo Central.
In short, the proposal of Commissioner Yawe, far from being a simple declaration, could constitute, if it is implemented in a reflected manner, a turning point in the management of security in the central Kongo. This path to a co-construction of security represents an important challenge, but it is at the same time an opportunity to engage the community in the more serene future.