Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s bustling capital, awoke unusually subdued on Wednesday, June 3, following opposition calls for a ‘ghost town’ protest to reject constitutional amendments allowing President Félix Tshisekedi to extend his term in office.

Normally teeming with life by 3:00 AM, the city’s streets were nearly deserted this morning. Taxi availability plummeted, schoolchildren were absent in large numbers, and most businesses remained shuttered. The usual crowds causing monstrous traffic jams were nowhere to be found.

In the Mont-Amba district, our reporter observed an eerie absence of activity on the Intendance road near the University of Kinshasa—a route typically packed with students by 7:50 AM. Instead, only dozens of police officers patrolled the area, while empty public transport stops and hesitant gas stations, including Salongo station, signaled the unusual calm.

Multiple police jeeps streamed toward the university, and military vehicles were spotted on the Bypass avenue. The normally congested Ngaba roundabout remained nearly empty until 8:00 AM.

Limete, a commune notorious for heavy traffic on Lumumba and Poids Lourds boulevards, saw minimal foot traffic. Public transport was scarce—only one bus operated until 7:00 AM, according to a resident from Tshangu district. Many vehicle owners chose to keep their cars parked to avoid potential unrest, while police patrols and officers positioned at key locations maintained a visible security presence.