Public lighting and crime: evidence from Goma, Eastern DRC
Speaker: Elias Maombi Ndatabaye
This study examines whether public street lighting can reduce crime in Goma, a fast-growing city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo marked by insecurity and low access to electricity. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 2,000 streetlights were installed across several neighbourhoods. We compare crime patterns before and after lighting was introduced, and between neighbourhoods that received lighting and those that did not. Crime fell dramatically in areas that received public lighting. Overall crime declined by about 67%, mainly due to large reductions in robberies and assaults. Killings were not affected. The stronger the lighting coverage, the larger the reduction in crime. Residents also reported feeling significantly safer at home and in public spaces. Interviews and survey evidence suggest that lighting works mainly by increasing visibility and making it easier for residents and patrols to monitor streets at night. While some crime appears to have shifted to nearby unlit areas, the overall effect remains strongly crime-reducing.