DRC: Secretary General of Joseph Kabila Party Arrested

Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition has raised alarm over what it described as a widening crackdown on political actors, following the arrest of a senior official of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and a nighttime search of a party office.

Aubin Minaku, a senior PPRD figure and former speaker of parliament, said in a statement posted on X that Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the party’s permanent secretary, had been arrested within the past 24 hours under circumstances that “raise serious concerns”.

He added that the party’s headquarters was also subjected to a nighttime search.

“We condemn these methods that further undermine national cohesion,” Minaku said, calling for immediate clarification from authorities and demanding Shadary’s release.

The PPRD is the party of former president Joseph Kabila, who handed over power to President Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 after nearly two decades in office.

M23 links

Relations between Tshisekedi’s administration and Kabila’s political camp have remained tense, with periodic accusations of harassment and intimidation of opposition figures.

Kabila is accused of backing M23 rebels who have seized large swathes of land in eastern DRC, a claim he denies.

The arrest follows fresh criticism by opposition parties over alleged abuses by security agencies, including a reported raid on the home of senior lawmaker Christian Mwando Nsimba Kabulo in eastern Tanganyika province, which opposition group Ensemble pour la République said was carried out without a warrant.

Together, the incidents have deepened opposition claims that security services are increasingly being used to target political rivals, a charge the government has previously denied, saying all operations are conducted within the law.

There was no immediate comment from the interior ministry, police or intelligence services on the arrest of Shadary or the reported search of the PPRD headquarters.

Rights organisations have repeatedly warned that arbitrary arrests and searches risk eroding civil liberties in Congo, particularly as political tensions persist nationwide. The government says it remains committed to upholding the constitution and the rule of law.

The developments come amid heightened political sensitivity in Congo, as authorities face pressure to maintain stability while addressing longstanding concerns over governance, security and democratic space.