Despite government claims of successfully closing the emergency shelters for victims of April 2025 floods, displaced families are once again visible across the capital, raising questions about the effectiveness of the authorities’ response.
In recent weeks, flood victims who had camped near the Cité de l’Union africaine, close to President Félix Tshisekedi’s residence, have moved to other prominent locations, including in front of the Palais du Peuple, before being dispersed again.
Observers from the human rights group Voix des Sans-Voix pour les Droits de l’Homme (VSV) visited the sites and reported that many victims are “abandoned to their sad fate” and unsure where to turn.
“While we recognize the government’s efforts to provide temporary shelters and assistance, these measures have not resolved the problem in depth,” said Pierre Serge Ntumba, VSV’s deputy executive director, during a press briefing on 5 November. “We hope the government will take further steps to ensure that flood victims are placed in humane and livable conditions.”
Displaced residents have also criticized the distribution of compensation, supervised by the provincial health minister, as inconsistent and opaque.
Payments ranged from 150,000 Congolese francs to 1,000 U.S. dollars, often distributed at night. “We were made to sign documents without seeing the amounts, and envelopes were handed to us with instructions not to open them on site,” said Bienvenu Mwanza, president of flood victims at the Kinkole site.
“Some received 150,000 or 300,000 francs and were dropped off at different locations, left to fend for themselves. Many lost their lives after receiving derisory amounts.”
Mwanza also alleged cases of fraud, claiming that some compensation was paid to people not on official lists, while some registered victims received nothing.
“The provincial health minister prepared and distributed the funds himself, setting the amounts as he saw fit,” he said. “How can we rebuild our homes or pay for children’s schooling with only 500 dollars?”
Similar concerns were voiced by flood victims at the Stade des Martyrs. “The president had promised to address our situation after visiting Tata Raphaël stadium. We demand fair compensation to allow us to relocate and meet our basic needs,” said Tshala Mbayi Masudi Philomène.
VSV called on the central government to intervene urgently, urging authorities to provide the promised compensation to enable victims to restart their lives in dignified conditions.
During the 55th Council of Ministers meeting on 22 August 2025, Vice Prime Minister Jacquemin Shabani had announced the closure of three emergency shelters. The government reported that 5,300 of the 4,219 households initially planned for assistance had received support and left the sites.
Yet, the reappearance of displaced families in Kinshasa indicates that the challenges persist and that many victims remain without adequate housing or support.