Joseph Isangura
Tension is growing in the city of Kolwezi, in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo, where residents took to the streets this week to oppose a provincial government plan to demolish homes near a newly developed airport facility.
The protests unfolded on Tuesday in the Golf ISTM neighborhood, an area residents say has been home to families for many years.
From early morning, groups of residents marched through their community, calling on authorities to halt the demolitions and open dialogue. Many carried placards demanding fairness and transparency, arguing that they were never formally consulted before the decision was announced. Several residents said they hold documents showing long-term occupation of the land and were shocked to learn that their homes had been marked for removal.
Provincial officials maintain that the land in question falls within a protected zone reserved for airport safety and future expansion. According to authorities, the demolitions are part of broader urban planning efforts aimed at supporting infrastructure development in a rapidly growing city. However, residents counter that development should not come at the expense of people who have already built lives and communities in the area.
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Kolwezi has expanded quickly in recent years, driven largely by mining and infrastructure investment. The city is a key hub in the global supply of strategic minerals, particularly cobalt, which is widely used in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. This rapid growth has increased pressure on housing and land, making disputes more frequent as the city continues to evolve.
Land ownership remains a sensitive issue across the country, where unclear property records and overlapping claims often complicate development projects. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, questions surrounding land tenure have long fueled tensions between communities and authorities, especially in urban areas undergoing transformation.
Human rights observers caution that forced evictions carried out without due process can deepen social inequality and erode trust in public institutions. International principles on housing stress that evictions should be a last resort and must include adequate notice, consultation, and resettlement options, as outlined in global housing standards supported by the United Nations.
As of Wednesday, provincial authorities had not released a detailed statement responding to the protesters’ demands. For residents of Golf ISTM, the uncertainty remains heavy, with many families unsure where they will go if demolitions proceed. Observers say the situation remains fluid, and further protests are possible if talks fail to materialize.
