The fight against cholera in Kinshasa: a call for ‘clear-sighted’ mobilisation of Congolese stakeholders

Kinshasa, July 6^th, 2025 (CPA) – A call for ‘lucid and resolute’ national mobilization in the face of the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was launched by President Tshisekedi at the 50th meeting of the Government, according to the minutes read out on Friday on national television. ‘In the week from June 23^rd to 29^th, 2025 alone, four (4) new health zones recorded cases of cholera, bringing to 25 the total number of zones affected out of the 35 in the capital, Kinshasa. Hospital and funeral capacities are under severe strain, and the threat of a widespread epidemic, particularly in disaster camps, is looming. Faced with this worrying situation, the President of the Republic has called for a clear-sighted and resolute national mobilization’, declared Patrick Muyaya, Minister in charge of Communication and the Media, in the minutes of the meeting. ‘This epidemic outbreak is not only a health emergency, it is also the symptom of an accumulation of vulnerabilities, particularly with the recent floods, which have seriously damaged sanitation infrastructures, contaminated drinking water sources and displaced thousands of people, exposing them to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions that encourage the spread of cholera’, Félix Tshisekedi was quoted by Minister Muyaya as saying. Despite the seriousness of the health situation in the capital, the DRC government spokesman nevertheless reassured the audience that the President of the Republic ‘is following with the greatest concern the evolution of the cholera epidemic that is currently affecting the province of Kinshasa, seriously endangering the health of our fellow citizens, particularly in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods’.

Hence the message of condolences from the Head of State to the families of the victims and, above all, his encouragement and the nation’s gratitude to the medical staff who are sacrificing themselves to save lives. ‘At this time of distress, he expressed his solidarity with all the families bereaved or affected by illness. He also paid a heartfelt tribute to the medical staff, front-line teams and community workers who, with courage and self-sacrifice, are working to save lives’, he said. The number of new suspected cases of cholera rose from 1,093 to 1,271 in the 24th epidemiological week in the DRC.