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]
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]
Denise Tshisekedi with MONUSCO
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]
Organization
Directorate of Public Safety
Directorate of General Intelligence
Directorate of Civil Protection
Directorate of the Border Police
Directorate of River, Lake, Maritime, and Rail Communication Routes
Directorate of the Scientific and Technical Police
Directorate for Anti-Crime
Directorate of Telecommunications and New Technologies
Directorate of Countering Economic and Financial Crimes
Directorate of Narcotics
Directorate of Judicial Identification and the Central File
National Central Bureau / INTERPOL
Directorate of Human Resources
Directorate of Budget and Finance
Directorate of Logistics
Directorate of Studies and Planning
International Police Cooperation’s Department
Specialized National Training Services and Central Services of the General Commissariat
Institution and Important Figures Protection Unit
National Intervention Legion
Statistics Service
Management and Maintenance of Infrastructure Service
Telecommunications and Transmissions Services
Health Service
Social Affairs Service
IT Service
Information and Communication Service
Weapons and Uniforms
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.
Vehicles
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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