A Kinshasa cleanup programme is using National Service crews, including former gang members, to clear rubbish from streets across the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital.
The Kinshasa cleanup has improved some public spaces, according to residents. However, reports of heavy-handed enforcement have also raised concerns about how the programme operates.
Africanews, citing AFP, reported that the crews have been working across Kinshasa since June.
Kinshasa cleanup puts former gang members to work
President Félix Tshisekedi called on the National Service in May to help improve sanitation in the capital.
The military-run organisation was created in 1997 and operates under the presidency. One of its roles is to reintegrate members of youth gangs known locally as “kulunas”.
Recruits receive military, technical and civic training before taking part in National Service activities.
Kinshasa, home to around 17 million people, has struggled with rubbish dumped in streets, drains and waterways.
Residents welcome cleaner streets
Some residents have welcomed the arrival of the cleaning crews.
Residents interviewed by AFP said areas previously affected by plastic bags, bottles and blocked drains had become cleaner.
The presence of the crews has also discouraged some people from throwing rubbish in public spaces.
However, keeping streets clean remains a challenge in a city where waste collection and sanitation infrastructure are limited.
Reports of heavy-handed enforcement
The Kinshasa cleanup has also faced criticism over the treatment of residents.
AFP reported witnessing National Service members strike a passer-by with sticks after he refused an order to help sweep a street.
Videos alleging other abuses involving members of the force have also circulated on social media.
In addition, National Service crews have targeted unauthorised street markets. Some vendors have been removed from public spaces and had goods confiscated.
The reports have raised concerns about enforcement methods even as some residents welcome cleaner streets.
Waste infrastructure remains a challenge
Experts say street cleaning alone will not solve Kinshasa’s wider waste problem.
Environmental specialist Eric Ndilu said lasting improvements require a broader sanitation policy.
Meanwhile, Albert Malukisa, a researcher at Congolese think tank Ebuteli, argued that cleaning crews could simply move rubbish from one location to another if adequate waste-treatment facilities are unavailable.
The Kinshasa cleanup therefore highlights a wider challenge for authorities: keeping one of Africa’s largest cities clean while improving waste infrastructure and addressing concerns over enforcement.
Long-term progress may depend on better waste collection, treatment facilities and public sanitation systems alongside the current street-cleaning programme.