What You Need to Know
Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, the second-in-command of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, was arrested in Kinshasa. His party condemned the arrest as arbitrary, claiming it is part of a broader crackdown on former regime figures. This incident highlights the escalating political and security tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Africa. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadari, the second-in-command of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy, was arrested in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His party condemned the arrest as arbitrary, claiming it is part of a broader crackdown on former regime figures.
The Kabila party announced the news of the arrest, asserting that the operation occurred under “concerning” circumstances. Party leader Obeing Minako stated that the headquarters of the “Common Front for Congo,” the political alliance supporting Kabila, was raided at night, arguing that such practices “threaten the unity of the country” and calling for Shadari’s immediate release.
Shadari is a prominent figure from the Kabila era, having served as Minister of the Interior from 2016 to 2018. He was the Common Front’s candidate in the December 2018 elections, where he received approximately 23% of the votes, losing to current President Félix Tshisekedi.
Context of Political and Security Tensions
These developments come amid rising political and security tensions in the country. In September, a court sentenced Joseph Kabila to death in absentia for allegedly “colluding” with the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, according to authorities. Weeks later, Kabila appeared in Nairobi alongside several opposition figures, including Shadari, to denounce what they termed “unjust rulings” and “dictatorship.”
Kabila has been out of the country since 2023, but his sudden appearance in Goma, a stronghold of the M23, raised concerns among authorities. In April, security forces raided properties linked to him and suspended his party’s activities.
The arrest of Shadari is expected to mark a new chapter in the ongoing confrontation between the current government and figures from the former regime, amid a worsening security crisis in the east.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced significant political instability since Joseph Kabila’s presidency, which ended in 2019. Kabila’s tenure was marked by allegations of electoral fraud and repression of opposition. Following his departure, tensions have continued to rise, particularly with the emergence of armed groups and ongoing conflicts in the eastern regions of the country. The arrest of Shadari is seen as a continuation of the struggle between the current government and remnants of Kabila’s administration.
