In an op-ed published by the French newspaper Le Monde, 75 Nobel laureates, including Dr. Denis Mukwege, urge the international community to take immediate action to end what they describe as the "Congolese tragedy", marked by more than three decades of war, extreme violence and persistent impunity.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing one of the deadliest conflicts since the Second World War, with around 6 million people killed. Added to this are more than 26 million people facing acute hunger, 7.8 million internally displaced persons and a growing recourse to sexual violence, particularly against children. The article denounces global silence and inaction in the face of this massive crisis.

The text explicitly accuses Rwanda, and in particular its support for the M23 rebel group, of fueling the war by plundering Congo's natural resources. Since the resurgence of the M23 in 2021, some 4,000 Rwandan soldiers have invaded eastern DRC, seizing areas rich in minerals. Today, this occupation forces over 10 million Congolese to live in fear.

The signatories denounce a "double standard" in international diplomacy: according to them, the Rwandan aggression is tolerated, while rapid sanctions have been imposed in other conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine. They question the value placed on the lives of African populations in the current international order.

The United Nations Mapping Report published in 2010 already documented the crimes committed between 1993 and 2003. Since then, the violence has never ceased, deploding the authors. The UN's humanitarian plan for 2025 is only 8.2% funded, making the DRC one of the world's most neglected crises.

Sexual violence against children has reached an unprecedented level, with almost 10,000 cases reported in two months. In some regions, a victim is recorded every 30 minutes.

The Nobel Prize winners are calling for the immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands an unconditional ceasefire, the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to support for the M23. They are also calling for the organization of an international conference for peace in the DRC, aimed at creating a platform for sustainable dialogue, including women and young people.

Finally, they are calling for the creation of an international tribunal to judge the crimes committed, on the basis of the Mapping report. For, they say, "justice must be at the heart of any lasting peace".

"We all have a piece of the Congo in our pockets", they remind us, pointing out that the minerals extracted in the DRC are essential to the manufacture of smartphones, computers and electric vehicles. In their view, the Congolese question is also a global issue, one of justice, peace and collective responsibility.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

The Union Nationale de la Presse du Congo (UNPC) reacted on Thursday to the decision by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication (CSAC) to suspend media coverage of the activities of the Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD) and its members throughout the country. By Act Number 006/B/06/025 of June 2, 2025, the CSAC suspended, as a precautionary measure, media coverage of the activities of the Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD) and its members for a period of 90 days throughout the country. Its president, Christian Bosembe, had even said that it was forbidden to mention Joseph Kabila's name on a popular Kinshasa radio program.

In an official statement signed by its president Kamanda wa Kamanda Muzembe, the UNPC expresses its "serious reservations" about what it describes as an authoritarian drift, denouncing unilateral regulation that seriously compromises freedom of expression and the press in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The self-regulatory organization of professional journalists stresses that media regulation is first and foremost a philosophical principle based on freedom. It specifies that regulation cannot be preventive or arbitrary, but must intervene in a posteriori and not a priori, to remain in line with democratic standards.

"A priori regulation is censorship without a name. Journalists and the media cannot put up with censorship and the resulting inquisition", declares the UNPC.

The press release questions the role that the CSAC seems to want to take on, that of hindering press freedom by assimilating journalists to dangerous actors. Such a position, according to the UNPC, runs counter to the national drive for cohesion and peace, particularly at a time when the DRC is facing serious security crises, especially in the east of the country.

"Why should the media and journalists be seen as carriers of arms and ammunition, when they are often the only witnesses to the tragedies that befall our compatriots?" asks the organization.

Refusing to hand over journalists "to the fury of a maximalist approach", the UNPC calls on the CSAC to show discernment. The organization calls for balanced regulation, respectful of fundamental rights and adapted to democratic imperatives.

She also urged media professionals to show restraint and professionalism, recalling the importance of their role in defending the truth, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Written by Noé Kalemeko

As of mid-2025, robbery and swindling remain significant concerns in Kinshasa, driven by a combination of socio-economic challenges, gang calls "Kuluna" activities, and limited law enforcement capacity. The latest case is that of burglars who attacked money changers at the University of Kinshasa on Friday afternoon, May 30, 2024. So far, the toll is not yet known. The modus operandi of these bandits has always been the same, or almost.

For today at the University of Kinshasa

According to several witnesses interviewed on the spot, the thugs first tried to attack a bank branch located within the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, before redirecting their attack to the informal exchange offices set up not far from the university police station, in the area commonly known as "Trafic". "They fired several shots into the air. Two students were wounded in the panic. The moneychangers were robbed of almost 7,000 US dollars", says a 2nd year law student, still in shock.

Urban Crime and Gangs

Street-level crime in Kinshasa is often attributed to gangs known as Kulunas or urban bandits.  These groups engage in violent robberies, extortion, and assaults, frequently targeting homes, shops, and public spaces.  They are particularly active in neighborhoods such as Ngiri-Ngiri, Ngaba, Kalamu, Matete, and Kisenso, where they operate with machetes and other weapons  .

In response to the escalating crime, the Congolese government has intensified its crackdown on urban gangs.  In December 2024, Operation “Ndobo” led to the arrest of 450 individuals across Kinshasa, with many facing swift trials and severe sentences, including the death penalty .

Swindling and Robbery Tactics

Swindlers in Kinshasa employ various deceptive tactics to exploit both locals and foreigners:

• Taxi-related robberies: Criminals pose as taxi drivers or passengers, luring victims into vehicles and then robbing them, often under the threat of violence.
• Scams involving fake goods: Individuals offer counterfeit or non-existent products, such as gold or diamonds, at attractive prices, only to defraud buyers.
• Impersonation of authorities: Fraudsters pose as police or security personnel to intimidate victims into compliance.

Written by Patient Igunzi