In Kinshasa, a widespread extortion scheme within the traffic police has been found to generate illicit revenue five times higher than official fines, while also contributing significantly to traffic congestion and accidents. Under the so-called quota system, police station managers assign daily targets for street agents to forcibly escort drivers—often using fabricated violations—to police stations. At these stations, judicial officers demand bribes from drivers to avoid formal penalties, with powerful “protectors” sometimes intervening on their behalf. Extensive field research, involving over 13,000 observations and quota-reduction experiments, indicates that this corrupt practice is responsible for approximately 40% of traffic jams at major intersections. The study reveals that the scheme is orchestrated by a coalition of traffic police agents, their managers, and judicial officers, undermining traffic law enforcement and public safety. It also highlights the urgent need for targeted reforms to restore order and accountability within Congo’s traffic policing system.
Source: The Conversation
