Kinshasa, June 11th, 2026 (CPA). – The residents of the municipality of Kisenso, in central Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have been called upon on Thursday during a ceremony to assist the National Commission for Disarmament, International Security and the Fight against Terrorism (Conadesi). “Our aim is to put an end to the illicit circulation of weapons, to strengthen the public security and to contribute in a sustainable manner to the restoration of peace and order in our municipalities. It is in this spirit that we are seeking the assistance and cooperation of all citizens,” has declared the Divisional Commissioner Prosper Katumbayi, Permanent Secretary of Conadesi. Mr Katumbayi has explained that his mission operates in a particularly sensitive domain. “We are engaged in the recovery, identification and traceability of weapons illegally held by lawless individuals or criminal groups,” he has added. According to him, security is a collective responsibility and its success depends on everyone’s involvement. “Our presence among you today carries an important message. We are here as part of our mission to secure the city of Kinshasa, and particularly the municipality of Kisenso,” he has indicated.
“As we have done in the various provinces and municipalities we have already visited, we are coming to meet you as a specialist security service. At the head of this organisation is a general officer, a role I currently hold,” he has reminded. For his part, Gode Atshwel, burgomaster of Kisenso, has specified that for several years his municipality has been carrying out an extensive work to identify military personnel and police officers residing within their territory but not officially carrying out their duties there. “This initiative was aimed at combating certain deviant behaviours that contribute to insecurity. Once these individuals had been identified, a key question arose: how to recover illegally held weapons and ensure they are managed securely,” he has suggested. “The support provided by Conadesi is a concrete response to our concerns and offers hope for the sustainable strengthening of security in our municipality,” has concluded Mr Atswel. ACP/