Kinshasa Police Chief Orders Crackdown On Abuse And Corruption

Kinshasa, August 18, 2026 - Kinshasa's provincial police commissioner, Israel Kantu Bakulu, warned officers against abusive weapons use, arbitrary arrests and corruption, signaling a governance push in the capital ahead of the school reopening period.

Speaking to officers in N'djili, Kantu Bakulu cited abusive motorcycle seizures, fabricated infractions and kickbacks among practices undermining public trust. He also linked some police behavior to the persistence of Kuluna gangs in the city.

The commissioner banned the use of scout informers in police stations and ordered that offending officers be sent before military courts. The campaign is intended to support a peaceful reopening of schools and reinforce discipline in the capital's security services.

For investors and operators in Kinshasa, the directive points to official concern over street-level insecurity and police rent-seeking, both of which affect mobility, compliance risk and daily business conditions.