Kinshasa, November 3rd, 2026 (CPA).- The decision to involve the National Service (SN) in sanitation and cleanliness efforts in the city of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been welcomed by the governor of the Congolese capital, according to a letter consulted by the CPA on Tuesday.
“First and foremost, I would like to reaffirm that the city of Kinshasa welcomes the decision of the President of the Republic to involve the National Service in sanitation and cleanliness efforts in our capital through the establishment of a Presidential Task Force.
This initiative reflects the Head of State’s clear determination to drive strong, coordinated and prompt action in order to provide concrete and lasting solutions to one of the major concerns of our population,” wrote Daniel Bumba, Governor of Kinshasa, in the document addressed to the National Coordinator of the National Service (SN).
The letter was issued in response to the acknowledgment of receipt by the Governor of the correspondence from the Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Cleanliness and Sanitation, in which the latter had expressed indignation following certain statements attributed to the provincial government of Kinshasa.
From the outset, the City of Kinshasa has regarded this initiative as a patriotic commitment to which all the institutions concerned are expected to contribute, in accordance with their respective mandates.
“Regarding the statements referred to in your letter, I believe it is important to adopt an objective and dispassionate interpretation of their scope and context.
In this regard, no connection should be established between statements relating to funding issues, on the one hand, and any alleged incitement to military indiscipline or the commission of punishable acts, on the other.
Such a characterization requires a rigorous assessment of the facts, their context and the elements constituting the offences that may have been mentioned,” he wrote.
In the same letter, the Governor’s Office expressed its commitment to upholding respect for the institutions of the Republic, discipline and State authority.
It is convinced that any differences in interpretation or communication should not be construed as a challenge to the mission entrusted to the Task Force, much less as an attempt to obstruct its activities. In this regard, the city authority gave clear assurances that the City of Kinshasa has no intention whatsoever of entering into competition with the National Service, whose support it welcomes.
It remains fully open and available for frank, constructive and effective cooperation.
“Our conviction is that maintaining cleanliness in Kinshasa is a collective challenge that calls for the mobilization of all expertise, resources and institutions concerned,” he wrote, before concluding: “I remain convinced that our strong sense of responsibility and our shared commitment to the supreme interests of the Nation will enable us to overcome any misunderstanding and make this presidential mission a success.” ACP/