Peter Kazadi, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, launched Operation “Black Panther”. This initiative, led by the national police, aims to combat banditry and crime which are rampant in several cities across the country. The importance of this operation is such that it was discussed during a council of ministers, highlighting the major concern of the Congolese authorities in the face of the escalation of urban banditry in various districts of Kinshasa.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
Bare-chested, some sporting dreadlocks and all sitting on the ground, staring blankly, 130 young people were arrested and presented on April 1 by the police. These individuals are identified as gang members, commonly called “kuluna”, in Kinshasa. These are the first results of the “black panther” operation, led by the Congolese authorities.
This new campaign stands out in particular for its management by the “National Legion of Intervention”, an elite corps acting to support provincial police stations in crisis situations such as riots or other special police interventions.
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The “black panther” mission is also remarkable for its commitment to respecting human rights, underlined Peter Kazadi, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior.
The reception of this operation in circles of civil society is marked by cautious anticipation. This skepticism is rooted in the precedent of similar initiatives that have not fully achieved their goals, in part due to a lack of resources.
For example, in 2012, the same police force created a specialized unit called “Anti-Kuluna”, made up of 130 officers also from the same National Intervention Legion, without however achieving the expected progress. In response, the current government promises greater commitment to this fight, hoping to obtain more conclusive results.
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