Worrying phenomenon: delinquency among young girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a worrying situation: the rise in delinquency among young girls. A scourge which reflects the social and educational problems facing the country. Indeed, seventeen young people, including nine women, commonly called “Kulunas”, were arrested on October 27, 2023 in Livulu, in the commune of Lemba in Kinshasa, during a fight linked to an alleged land conflict.
This phenomenon, which highlights society’s failure in the supervision and education of young people, arouses concern among the Congolese population. According to some residents of Mbanza Lemba, these acts of banditry, when committed by young girls, reflect a deep unease within society. They believe that the Congo has lost many positive values and that urgent solutions must be found to reorient society.
The testimonies of the women interviewed show their concern about this situation. Anastase Mungu, saleswoman and mother of seven children, questions the future of the country in terms of moral and cultural values. It underlines the crucial role of women in society, that of leading towards development by instilling good values. For her, it is distressing to see young girls disregard these values and engage in immoral practices.
Françoise Nkita, housewife and mother of five children, highlights the lack of strategy of the Ministry of EPST (Primary, Secondary and Technical Education). According to her, since the establishment of free education in the DRC, the ministry has not acted to encourage young people, particularly girls, to go to school. She proposes to set up professional training in order to reintegrate young girls and guide them towards a promising future.
The women interviewed call on the Congolese state to take strong measures to eradicate this phenomenon. They recommend organizing a tripartite between the Ministry of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, neighborhood chiefs and young delinquents in order to understand the real causes of this phenomenon and find suitable solutions. They also insist on the need to strengthen the security and judicial apparatus to deter the perpetrators of these acts of delinquency.
Despite this alarming situation, women remain convinced that women have an essential role to play in stopping this delinquency. They emphasize the importance of educating and mentoring children, especially girls, so that they can make good decisions and become role models for the development of the nation..
The article also highlights the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ranking as fifth in the world in terms of crime, according to the Global Organized Crime Index (OCI). This ranking raises questions about the political crisis, uncontrolled population growth, social and economic exclusion, the marginalization of young people and the absence of public security services in the country.
In conclusion, delinquency among young girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a problem that must be taken seriously. It requires urgent and concerted action by government and society as a whole. Only a global approach, combining education, supervision and the strengthening of security systems, will be able to remedy this situation and offer a better future to younger generations.