Ex-hoods drafted as builders to tackle Kinshasa litter

What results have the builders achieved on Kinshasa streets?

Since the first teams appeared in blue overalls and yellow boots in June, residents near Victory Roundabout report fewer plastic bags and blocked drains. Local resident Richard Edambe stated the city feels cleaner and that makes residents extremely happy. Motorcycle taxi driver Auguy Bayaya said the roundabout was previously choked with waste that made breathing difficult, with plastic bags and bottles everywhere and drains blocked. Another resident, Kevin Mwembwe, observed that people now hesitate to discard rubbish when builders are present because they fear the crews. The crews operate under army supervision and receive orders to clear central boulevards where public bins do not exist. An army officer was heard barking orders such as "Come on! Get to work!" when two members briefly stopped. Around 50 builders were seen working at the roundabout location. The visible shift of detritus piles has been noted across targeted central areas, yet the absence of any measurement of daily waste volume means the scale of improvement cannot be quantified. As soon as crews depart, dumping resumes in the same spots, showing that short-term clearing does not alter underlying behaviour.

How does the National Service recruit and train its members?

The force draws from the notorious kuluna youth gangs that have long terrorised Kinshasa residents. Recruits undergo military, technical and civic training before deployment to the streets. Pay and selection criteria remain opaque. Justice ministry sources confirm many participants never appeared before a judge. Activist Emmanuel Cole reported cases of direct transfer from communities to training camps without prior imprisonment or court appearance. Some selections reportedly follow nepotism or tribal lines linked to the president's community. The programme aims to reintegrate former offenders through paramilitary service under presidential authority. The structure was created in 1997 and operates under the authority of the presidency with paramilitary status. A justice ministry official also confirmed that recruits had not been brought before a judge. Contacted by AFP, National Service officials did not respond to requests for clarification on selection procedures. The lack of judicial screening leaves open the question of whether all participants truly qualify as amnestied offenders or include individuals placed directly into the force for other reasons.

Which incidents of violence have been recorded?

In Bandalungwa, an AFP correspondent witnessed builders striking a passer-by with sticks after he refused to sweep when ordered to do so after crossing the road where they were cleaning. Social media videos show similar confrontations in recent weeks. Crews have also dismantled illegal street markets, confiscating goods and displacing vendors who later reappear on side streets away from main roads. Opposition figures warn that the same force could be deployed if police cannot contain upcoming protests against constitutional changes that could allow a third term for President Felix Tshisekedi. Researcher Albert Malukisa noted the risk that National Service personnel will be called upon during political tensions in the capital, especially if the police are overwhelmed. These enforcement actions extend the original cleaning mandate into crowd control and market regulation without clear legal boundaries.

Why does waste management remain ineffective despite the clean-ups?

Environmental specialist Eric Ndilu explained that crews move rubbish without treatment centres to process it. Kinshasa produces an unknown daily volume of waste because no measurement system exists. A project to install connected bins failed for lack of funding. Ndilu described current efforts as chaotic and driven by short-term political goals rather than a coherent policy. Extreme poverty and absent infrastructure sustain the cycle of indiscriminate dumping in streets, drains and rivers. As soon as the builders move on, the community returns to its old habits because it does not understand the importance of the actions being carried out. Malukisa stated the operations simply displace the problem elsewhere rather than solving it. Without treatment facilities or collection routes, the physical removal of waste achieves only temporary relocation rather than reduction or recycling.

What structural problems limit long-term impact?

Without bins, collection routes or disposal sites, residents return to previous habits once builders leave an area. Malukisa stated the operations simply displace the problem. The absence of judicial screening during recruitment raises accountability questions. Families of victims and rights groups continue to question whether amnestied individuals receive adequate oversight. National Service officials have not responded to requests for clarification on selection procedures. Insecurity and poor sanitation continue to blight daily life across the vast capital where rubbish is routinely dumped in streets, drains and rivers. The sight of paramilitaries on the streets also worries some observers ahead of expected political tensions. These gaps indicate that the programme addresses symptoms rather than the root causes of poverty-driven dumping and missing infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the builders operating in Kinshasa?

They are former kuluna gang members recruited into the National Service, a military-run structure created in 1997 and placed under presidential authority.

When did the street cleaning programme begin?

President Felix Tshisekedi authorised deployment in May; the first teams appeared on Kinshasa boulevards in June.

Have abuses been documented?

Yes. An AFP journalist saw a passer-by beaten in Bandalungwa, and multiple videos of similar incidents have circulated on social media.

Is the waste collected treated or recycled?

No treatment centres exist. Collected material is moved to other locations without processing.

Why do residents continue dumping rubbish?

The city lacks public bins and systematic collection, while extreme poverty removes incentives for organised disposal.