Kinshasa, May 19th, 2025 (CPA) – The illegal sale of land in erosion-prone areas in Mont-Ngafula, a commune to the west of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the subject of a raid carried out on Monday by a commission from the council of this municipality. ‘The purpose of our raid today was to investigate complaints made by the population to the local council about the illegal sale of land in erosion-prone areas’, said Josaphat Kanda, chairman of the Mont-Ngafula local council’s commission of enquiry. ‘We are a commission mandated by the Mont-Ngafula commune council. We went to the Kimbondo district to investigate allegations of the illegal sale of land initially allocated to local chiefs’, he added. He pointed out that these sales were taking place in areas that are particularly vulnerable to erosion, raising concerns among local residents about the environmental risks and the legality of these transactions, before noting the uncontrolled occupation of the public right of way. ‘This observation highlights a potential need to renew and revitalize local government. The conclusions of this investigation and the commission’s recommendations will be crucial in restoring order, guaranteeing respect for the public domain and ensuring transparent and responsible land management within the Kimbondo district and the commune of Mont-Ngafula’, he continued.
‘A detailed report will be presented at the next plenary session of the local council, so that strong measures can be taken to remedy the problems identified’, he concluded.