The “dead city” operation observed this Wednesday, June 3rd, in Kinshasa did not bring the capital to a complete standstill. Across the RDC, the opposition struggled to achieve total mobilization. Markets remained open, taxis continued their routes, and the machinery of the state stayed functional.
However, the administration of Tshisekedi should not be misled by this apparent normalcy. The hesitation seen in the streets, the shops only half-opened, and the hushed conversations represent a powerful, wordless communication from the public. History shows that such silent signals from the Congolese people often precede significant shifts.
This is the same population that, during a ceremony where the President presented gifts to the Léopards for their World Cup participation, shouted with one voice: “Where is our share?”
That day, Kinshasa spoke for the entire RDC. It wasn’t a lack of love for sports, but the exhaustion of a people who, despite still supporting their leader, are suffering. As the saying goes, a hungry stomach has no ears. There is a growing fatigue with promises that shine on television while the youth remain unemployed.
The promise of six million jobs once sparked hope in every corner of the city, from Matete to Mont-Ngafula, and from Bandal to Masina. Seven years later, these young people are still waiting for those opportunities. They are not asking for charity; they are demanding the future they were promised.
History teaches us that power remains stable only when it meets the concrete needs of its citizens. While Lumumba remained faithful to the people, they were betrayed after his passing. Mobutu maintained control as long as he could secure silence. However, the RDC has moved past the era of bought silence. Today’s citizens in Kinshasa are hesitant and no longer follow orders blindly. This hesitation is a political alarm, a call for awareness regarding their social reality.
The government should also recognize that the opposition’s relative failure was not due to a lack of public discontent, but rather a lack of credibility. The people noticed the figures lurking in the shadows. The influence of Joseph Kabila, which many associate with Paul Kagame, was perceived in the background maneuvers. The Congolese people fiercely reject such alliances and remain hostile to any foreign interference claiming to speak for them. The public chooses its own battles and refuses to let its anger be instrumentalized.
This message must be understood in its true essence. The people are not seeking chaos; they are seeking governance that addresses their needs. They demand rapid improvements in critical areas: youth employment, social justice, state credibility, and the reduction of social inequalities. Every failure in governance becomes a tool for the opposition. The government must stop providing them with such ammunition.
As a constitutional reform looms, the nation expects a strong signal. It is time for the President to appoint a new government—not a traditional administration for routine management, but a “combat government.” This team must focus on constitutional reforms, but more importantly, on rewarding the people. The citizens who have supported the Head of State since 2018 deserve more than just words; they deserve results. Those trusted by the President must not dishonor him before the people. The Congo does not beg; it is the ultimate authority, and when it speaks, those in power must listen.
