Flooding in Kinshasa: President Tshisekedi at the victims’ bedside
A deadly disaster strikes the capital
On the night of April 4 to 5, 2025, Kinshasa was hit hard by heavy rains that caused devastating flooding. The toll was heavy: at least 33 dead and hundreds of families affected. In the face of this tragedy, President Félix Tshisekedi visited the Tata-Raphaël stadium, now an emergency shelter, to express his support for the victims.
The Tata-Raphaël stadium transformed into a refuge
Accompanied by First Lady Denise Nyakeru, the Head of State visited the stadium’s sports hall, temporarily transformed into a reception center by the Fondation Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi (FDNT). More than 1,050 people have taken refuge there after losing their homes. In front of the victims, the President gave a speech in Lingala full of compassion and hope, assuring them that the government would not let them down:
“Do not be distressed, for your government exists and will not abandon you,” he declared.
An alarming human and material toll
According to figures released by the Ministry of the Interior, the floods claimed 33 victims, including 23 deaths recorded on April 5 and 10 the following day. Over 200 households were affected, particularly in the communes of Limete, Matete, Masina, Mont-Ngafula, Ngaliema and Barumbu. Material damage was also considerable: 14 communes were deprived of drinking water due to damage to the Ndjili river catchment station, and the national road n°1 linking Kinshasa to Matadi suffered heavy damage.
Conclusion: The Congolese state faces a major humanitarian challenge
President Tshisekedi’s visit, beyond its symbolic value, is intended to reassure the affected populations and demonstrate the authorities’ commitment to managing this crisis. This disaster is yet another reminder of Kinshasa’s infrastructural vulnerability to bad weather. The coming weeks will be decisive in assessing the effectiveness of assistance and rehousing measures, and in strengthening the resilience of the Congolese capital to climatic disturbances.
