All I See Is Water: Where Is the Leadership?

All I See Is Water: Where Is the Leadership?

I don’t really know where to begin. Kinshasa is drowning—again. And not just in water, but in grief, confusion, and what feels like abandonment.

As of April 8, 2025, at least 33 people have lost their lives after heavy rains caused the Ndjili River to flood its banks. This started around April 5. Whole homes were swallowed up. Streets became rivers. And the silence from leadership? Deafening.

I don’t want to be that person who complains. I really don’t. But I can’t keep quiet. The help that’s supposedly out there—it’s not visible. People are sleeping in the open. Others are mourning their loved ones. Drinking water is gone in many areas. Roads to the airport were washed out. And yet... we’re told not to worry? That help is coming?

I want to believe that. I really do. But from where I’m sitting, I just don’t see it.

This isn’t even the first time. Back in 2022, Kinshasa faced another deadly flood—over 100 lives gone. Two years later, here we are again. So my question is: what changed? What have we done since then to make sure this wouldn’t happen again? If the answer is "not much," then we need to talk about that.

The president had a crisis meeting. He made a statement. But to be honest, it’s not enough. We need to see leadership. We need to feel that someone is fighting for us, that someone has our back. Because right now, it feels like people are fighting to survive on their own.

I’m not asking for perfection. I’m asking for presence. I’m asking for a leader who shows up—not just in words, but in action. Someone who acts like they have a go-go inside them—moving, doing, responding with heart and urgency. The people are not lazy. They are not weak. But they are tired of crying with no one listening.

Please, this week—this week—let there be a solid, visible, real plan. No more “we’ll see.” No more “coming soon.” Just real help. Real leadership. Real care.

That’s all I’m asking.