Exploring the Drivers of Violence Among the Youth in the Municipality of Ngaliema in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

The study was a qualitative case study that was aimed at exploring the causes and the patterns of violence among youth in the Municipality of Ngaliema in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The statement of the problem was that the Municipality of Ngaliema and the City of Kinshasa are facing violence from youth who terrorize citizens by attacking using different patterns and forms such as knives, machetes or iron rods. The purpose of the study was to suggest the mechanisms that could be used to minimize the drivers of violence among the youth. The following objectives guided the study: To establish the causes of violence among the youth in the Municipality of Ngaliema in Kinshasa, DRC; to explore the patterns and forms violence among the youth and to suggest mechanisms of intervention to address the violence experienced in Ngaliema in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The target population was 375 725 and the sampled participants were composed of the youth, the educationists, and the church leaders that added to 53 participants. The data were generated through in-depth interviews and an opened-ended questionnaire. The findings indicated that the unemployment, poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of education, carelessness of parents were some of the drivers of violence. There were various patterns and forms of violence such as the Kuluna phenomenon, the physical violence with the use of harming object, the aggression, the verbal violence, and the sexual violence. However, the findings suggested that the creation of jobs, the opening of training centers, provision of land for agriculture were some of the strategies that could be used to minimize violence among the youth. The study recommended that the state authorities could work in collaboration with different stakeholders such as churches, clubs, Non-Governmental Organizations, the media, the civil society organizations involved in political issues to sensitize youth for change of behavior, peace, and self-confidence because many youth use violence as way-solving of their issues.