A survey conducted by the Insitut Ebuteli revealed that Congolese citizens’ optimism about the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dropped by 9% in 2026 compared to 2024, largely due to poor governance.
The study, published on June 28, 2026, surveyed 1,350 Congolese across all 26 provinces in April this year. It aimed to understand how citizens view the future of a country plagued by insecurity, poverty, and epidemics.
According to the findings, 58% of respondents believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 39% see it moving toward a better future. This marks an increase in pessimism compared to April 2024, when 49% expressed hopelessness.
Residents of Kasaï Occidental are the most optimistic, with 63% hopeful about the country’s future, followed by Kasaï-Oriental (52%), Kinshasa (47%), and Bas-Congo (45%). In contrast, South Kivu—where large areas are controlled by the AFC/M23 coalition—shows the lowest optimism at 11%, followed by North Kivu (11%), Equateur (28%), and Ituri (37%).
When asked why they lack confidence in the country’s future, respondents cited poor governance. They identified the government as the most corrupt institution (22%), followed by the judiciary (18%) and parliament (16%). Other institutions accused of corruption include the police (11%), the army (10%), the presidency (7%), and the senate (3%).
The survey also revealed that 52% of Congolese live in extreme poverty, with poverty levels reaching 70% in rural areas. Unemployment rose to 71% in 2026 compared to 2024.
On trust in institutions, citizens expressed the highest confidence in the media (76%), the army (75%), religious organizations (72%), and civil society (67%). However, 60% said they do not trust political parties.
Regarding security, support for war has declined sharply. In April 2024, 52% supported armed conflict, but by 2026, 70% favored peace talks backed by diplomatic pressure. Only 33% of men support continuing the war, while 67% want the government to keep arming Wazalendo militias.
Finally, 64% of Congolese believe that based on the Washington peace agreements, the United States could help end the conflict in eastern DRC—provided it gains access to the country’s mineral resources.
