DRC-Former gang members are being deployed to clean the streets of Kinshasa as the Democratic Republic of Congo seeks to tackle worsening waste management challenges in the capital, while concerns grow over alleged abuses by the recruits.
The youths, commonly known as “builders”, are part of the National Service, a military-run programme established to reintegrate members of the notorious kuluna gangs through military, technical and civic training.
Since they began working on the streets in June, the recruits have been clearing piles of rubbish from roads, drainage systems and public spaces while wearing blue overalls and yellow boots.
The programme was initiated after President Félix Tshisekedi called on the National Service in May to help clean up Kinshasa, a city of more than 17 million people where waste is frequently dumped on streets, in drains and in rivers.
Residents in some areas have welcomed the initiative, saying it has improved cleanliness and restored order.
“Today the city has become clean, and that makes us extremely happy,” said Richard Edambe, a resident near Victory Roundabout, where about 50 builders were deployed.
Motorcycle taxi driver Auguy Bayaya said the area had previously been overwhelmed by plastic bags and bottles, with blocked drainage making it difficult for residents to breathe comfortably.
“Fortunately, the builders came and restored discipline,” he said.
However, the clean-up campaign has also raised concerns over the use of force. Witnesses have reported cases in which residents accused of anti-social behaviour were allegedly beaten or forced to participate in the clean-up.
In the Bandalungwa neighbourhood, an AFP correspondent witnessed a passer-by being stopped and ordered to sweep after crossing a road where the builders were working. He was allegedly struck with sticks after refusing to comply.
Videos showing alleged abuses by members of the force have also circulated on social media in recent weeks.
The builders have also targeted informal street markets, forcing vendors out of public spaces and confiscating their goods. The markets have, however, reportedly reappeared away from major roads after the clean-up teams leave.
Environmental specialist Eric Ndilu said the approach was unlikely to provide a lasting solution without broader investment in waste management infrastructure.
“The community returns to its old habits,” Ndilu said, arguing that Kinshasa needs a comprehensive urban sanitation policy.
Albert Malukisa, a researcher at Congolese thinks tank Ebuteli, said the current approach risks shifting the problem rather than solving it because the city lacks adequate facilities to process the collected waste.
“Indiscipline is the result of extreme poverty and a lack of infrastructure,” Malukisa said.
The presence of the paramilitary force on the streets has also raised political concerns, particularly as the opposition prepares to protest against proposed constitutional changes that critics say could pave the way for Tshisekedi to seek a third term.
Malukisa warned that tensions could increase in Kinshasa and that the National Service could potentially be called upon if police are overwhelmed during demonstrations.
The programme has also faced questions over how recruits are selected. Prisoners’ rights activist Emmanuel Cole alleged that some recruits were brought into the force through nepotism or tribal connections and that others entered training camps without first appearing before a court.
A Justice Ministry official also told AFP that some recruits had not been brought before a judge.
National Service officials did not respond to requests for comment from AFP.
