Presidential Directive on Public Safety
Speaking to reporters after opening the new Liberté school complex in Brazzaville on 24 October, President Denis Sassou Nguesso said he personally instructed the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Présidentielle to help police dismantle the so-called “bébés noirs” gangs terrorising several Congolese cities (government communiqué).
The head of state described the order as a matter of national serenity. “Beyond protecting the presidency, the DGSP remains an integral component of the national security architecture and must stand with citizens whenever peace is threatened,” he said, quoting the decree that created the 2,000-strong unit.
Understanding the Kuluna Phenomenon
Local media first borrowed the word kuluna from Kinshasa street slang to label groups of youths wielding machetes and iron bars. In Brazzaville they have multiplied since the mid-2010s, operating in dense neighbourhoods such as Ouenze, Moungali and Makélékélé, according to police statistics published this year.
Their attacks spare few. Vendors, commuters and even uniformed officers have reported assaults, while social networks regularly circulate footage of night-time robberies. A senior police official said at least 11 law-enforcement personnel have fallen victim in 18 months, underlining the rising threat (local press interview).
Why Call in the DGSP?
Security experts note that the presidential guard’s rapid-deployment capacity and specialised training give authorities a tactical edge where conventional patrols sometimes fail. “Speed and intelligence sharing are crucial in urban counter-gang work,” explained criminologist Jean-Paul Mavoungou, reached by phone from Pointe-Noire.
The DGSP has armoured vehicles, drones and canine teams rarely available to district stations. By instructing the unit to join police and gendarmes, the presidency signals determination without declaring a state of emergency, analysts at the ThinkCongo policy centre observed.
Operations Extend Beyond the Capital
Initial raids concentrated on Brazzaville’s densest quarters, but suspects quickly dispersed along the Congo-Ouest railway toward Dolisie and into northern pool villages, security sources confirmed. Sassou Nguesso said the campaign will follow them: “It is no flash in the pan; wherever they flee, we shall protect our people.”
Interior Minister Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou later told national television that joint task forces have already reclaimed several abandoned houses previously used as kuluna bases, seizing blades, narcotics and stolen phones. He declined to give precise numbers for operational security reasons.
Community Reactions and Support
In Ouenze market, vegetable seller Thérèse Mbemba welcomed the heightened presence. “Customers stopped coming at dusk. Now patrols pass every thirty minutes, and we close later,” she said, gesturing to newly installed solar lamps funded by municipal authorities.
Civil-society leader Dieudonné Ibara, while applauding the crackdown, urged parallel social programmes. “Many of these youths left school early and need options besides delinquency,” he stated during a round-table on urban safety hosted by the Brazzaville mayor’s office (community forum report).
Balancing Rights and Enforcement
Human-rights organisations stress that operations must respect legal safeguards. The National Commission on Human Rights recommended clear arrest protocols and swift transfer of detainees to judicial authorities to avoid prolonged custody. Justice Minister Aimé-Angui Changé has promised oversight.
Magistrate Clarisse Ngouabi observed that previous sweeps in 2018 led to congestion in remand centres. “Courts need resources to process cases quickly or risks of recidivism remain,” she noted. The government announced the recruitment of 50 additional clerks and the digitisation of case files to accelerate proceedings.
Economic Stakes Behind the Crackdown
Business leaders argue that street safety underpins Brazzaville’s attractiveness for regional trade. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that informal vendors lost up to 18 percent of turnover last quarter due to evening insecurity. Hotel occupancies also dipped during reported stabbing sprees near the Poto-Poto bus station.
Foreign investors monitor developments closely. A representative of an energy services firm planning a Pointe-Noire logistics hub said sustained security will influence final investment decisions. “Predictability matters as much as tax incentives,” he commented, requesting anonymity due to corporate policy.
Long-Term Prevention Initiatives
The government is coupling law enforcement with social reinsertion schemes. The Youth Ministry announced a CFA 3-billion fund for vocational training in carpentry, plumbing and digital skills targeting 3,000 at-risk adolescents in Brazzaville and Bouenza. Registration begins next month.
Non-profits such as Fondation Beto Ba Beto pledge to mentor participants and facilitate micro-credit for start-ups. “Repression alone cannot erase despair,” said foundation director Mireille Louemba, highlighting earlier successes in rehabilitating ex-street children through music workshops.
Expert Outlook on Sustainability
Security analyst Rodrigue Okemba believes the DGSP’s involvement represents a strategic surge rather than militarisation. “Its presence boosts morale among conventional units and deters gang regrouping,” he argued, pointing to falling incident reports in Gamboma after similar joint patrols two years ago.
Yet Okemba cautioned that gangs adapt. “Pressure must become routine, not cyclical.” He recommended quarterly reviews of crime data and community feedback to maintain momentum without overstretching elite forces.
Toward a Safer Congo
For President Sassou Nguesso, the objective remains clear: restore public confidence from Brazzaville’s avenues to the remotest districts. “We shall ensure that every Congolese enjoys peace,” he affirmed, promising regular communication on progress.
With the DGSP now integrated into the wider security grid, residents witness a blend of firm policing and renewed social outreach. Whether the kulunas fade permanently or morph into new forms will test the resilience of the current strategy, but for many shopkeepers and commuters, a calm ride home already feels within reach.