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Former Congolese Senate president arrested in Kinshasa

By , based on Umuseke

Former Congolese Senate president arrested in Kinshasaunknown, Radio Okapi · CC BY 2.0

Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, former president of the Congolese Senate and a close ally of Joseph Kabila, has been arrested in Kinshasa by Félix Tshisekedi’s authorities, according to Congolese media. Aged 80, he is reportedly suspected of embezzling seven million dollars, according to Umuseke.

Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, former president of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a close ally of former president Joseph Kabila, was arrested on Friday morning in Kinshasa by Félix Tshisekedi’s authorities, according to Umuseke. Aged 80, he is the subject of an investigation into suspected embezzlement of $7 million, according to Congolese media cited by Umuseke.

More than 30 soldiers were reportedly sent to carry out his arrest. Alexis Thambwe Mwamba was one of the political figures who maintained a close relationship with Joseph Kabila, president of DR Congo from 2001 to 2019.

The arrest comes amid tensions between Félix Tshisekedi’s government and figures close to Joseph Kabila. It follows Joseph Kabila taking the lead of a new rebel movement on 13 October, after which he was presented on the same day as the leader of an armed coalition against the Congolese president. The details of the charges against Alexis Thambwe Mwamba and the progress of the investigation remain the subject of questions reported by Umuseke.

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DRC security crisis

The security crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo leads to the trial of two generals after the fall of Bukavu.

The latest developments

Earlier in this story

  1. 22 OctTshopo governor urges rejection of Kabila rebellion
  2. 21 OctBelgium condemns Kabila’s decision to lead armed FRN
  3. 20 OctEastern Congolese civil society groups back Kabila’s movement
  4. 19 OctJoseph Kabila takes charge of FRN, complicating DR Congo dialogue
  5. 19 OctC64 coalition to discuss its position on Kabila’s front in Brussels
The whole story: 53 articles →

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