Haut-Katanga: Police Remind Private Security Companies About Firearms Use

In Lubumbashi, the provincial police commissioner of Haut-Katanga, Blaise Kilimbalimba, has issued a stern reminder to private security firms regarding the legal framework governing their activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The directive explicitly prohibits these companies from conducting patrols on public roads and from possessing or using firearms. Commissioner Kilimbalimba emphasized that private security personnel must not wear uniforms or display insignia that could be confused with those of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) or the national police. The use of sirens, flashing lights, or other signaling devices reserved for official defense and security services is also forbidden.

Furthermore, the police commissioner stressed that private security firms are barred from participating in public order maintenance or restoration operations. They are also prohibited from intervening in political or social conflicts. While acknowledging that some private security methods, such as using metal detectors and surveillance cameras, overlap with police functions, Kilimbalimba insisted on the strict adherence to legal boundaries.

"Security remains a sovereign mission of the state, and private security companies can only act within legal limits," the commissioner stated. This reminder aims to ensure that private security services operate strictly within their mandated roles and do not overstep into the state's exclusive responsibilities.

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Security remains a sovereign mission of the state, and private security companies can only act within legal limits.