MONUSCO, through its civilian police component (UNPOL), launched on Monday, June 8, an ambitious project aimed at strengthening the security territorial coverage in the city of Beni, the provisional provincial capital of North Kivu. The objective is to bring the Congolese National Police (PNC) closer to communities in areas most exposed to insecurity.
With an estimated cost of around 70,000 US dollars and a duration of two months, the project includes the installation of equipped containers, fitted with furniture, IT equipment, and solar kits. These will serve as police posts in neighborhoods heavily affected by crime, notably Mambango, Benegule, Bundji, and Sayo.
Three of these structures will be specifically dedicated to the protection of women and children, as well as to the prevention of sexual violence.
According to Nasson Murara, Communication Officer for the PNC in Beni, the project addresses an urgent need for proximity policing:
“The police must be close to the population […] this will help contain the security situation. When police are permanently present on site, responses to alerts become faster and more effective.”
He emphasized that these infrastructures will help fill operational gaps in areas that have so far been difficult to cover: “These are the most crime‑prone areas of the city of Beni that have been targeted […] police often face difficulties responding quickly due to lack of presence on the ground.”
Beyond infrastructure, MONUSCO is already strengthening the capacities of the PNC through specialized training, including training on combating sexual and gender‑based violence, forensic policing, community policing, traffic management, basic IT, crime scene management, and basic criminal data management.
Support also includes the provision of equipment, as well as the rehabilitation and logistical support (vehicles and motorcycles) for police units. This support is considered crucial by police authorities: “All this support strengthens the operational capacity of the police on the ground,” acknowledged Nasson Murara.
To ensure the success of the project, the PNC is calling for community involvement:
“The population must support this project […] and work closely with the police to strengthen security in their neighborhoods,” insisted Nasson Murara.
Jean-Tobie OKALA
