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National police force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Congolese National Police (French: Police nationale congolaise, PNC) is the national police force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national police consists of 110,000–150,000 officers and operates on the provincial level, answering to the Interior Ministry.[1] It is known in the DRC for corruption, repression of political dissidents, and other human rights abuses.[2] It is currently undergoing reforms. A police academy is being built.[3]
| Congolese National Police Police nationale Congolaise | |
|---|---|
.svg) Emblem of the Congolese National Police | |
| Common name | Police nationale congolaise |
| Abbreviation | PNC |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1997 |
| Employees | 100,000—150,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | DR Congo |
| Operations jurisdiction | DR Congo |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Kinshasa |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of the Interior |
The current Police Commissioner General is Dieudonne Amuli Bahigwa, a former Congolese army officer, who replaced Charles Bisengimana in July 2017.[4]
The former Kinshasa Police Commissioner, General Celestin Kanyama, was sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for his role in repressing citizens during anti-government protests using violence. He was removed from his post in 2017.[5]
The organisation's budget is approximately $257,130,643 (2015).
The PNC operates alongside the military police (police militaire or PM) to police the city of Kinshasa.
The legislation "Decree-Law N° 002-2002 On institution, organization and functioning of the Congolese national police" from 26 January 2002 establishes the role of the National Police (PNC) of the DRC.[6]
Starting in 2014, about 150 police officers part of the "Formed Police Unit" were deployed to the neighboring Central African Republic as part of a peacekeeping contingent, along with 850 FARDC troops.[7]
In February 2019 Human Rights Watch accused the Congolese police of extrajudicially executing dozens of people during a crackdown on gangs in Kinshasa.[8]
In March 2022, first lady, Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi visited the Congolese National Police in Kinshasa during training. They were working with MONUSCO police concerning gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping operations.[9]
Congolese police officers wear a blue uniform. Their service weapons are the Kalashnikov (7.62mm) though the large majority of officers on the streets do not carry weapons.
The National Police often use Toyota Land Cruisers and 4x4s as well as trucks, some more specialised vehicles and they use smaller Toyota Yaris type vehicles in the city of Kinshasa.
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