DRC: Moïse Katumbi and the Mulonde airstrip, the beginnings of destabilization?

On October 1 and 2, 2024, a forceful raid took place on a property belonging to Moïse Katumbi, a controversial figure and opponent of the Congolese president. Located in Mulonde, near Pweto in Haut-Katanga, this property is the subject of a military investigation following the rehabilitation of an airstrip on site. The affair, revealed by Katumbi's chief of staff, Olivier Kamitatu, on X (formerly Twitter), immediately ignited debates, both in the camp of Félix Tshisekedi and in that of the opponent.

Suspicions of destabilization or a simple humanitarian project?

According to Congolese authorities, the rehabilitation of this airstrip could pose a threat to national security . Several military sources have expressed their fears that this airstrip could be used as a supply base for insurgent forces, in a region where armed groups, such as the M23, are seeking to expand their activities.

To justify their intervention, the authorities point to the lack of prior authorization for these works. They claim that Katumbi's initiatives in Mulonde were launched without consulting the competent civil and military authorities, which has reinforced their mistrust. A delegation from the army and intelligence services has thus been dispatched to clarify this matter.

The defense of Katumbi: Humanitarian activities and opening up

For his part, Moïse Katumbi categorically denies any belligerent intention. He made public a letter dated September 24, 2024 , addressed to the civil aviation authority, in which he explains that the work is only intended to open up the region and facilitate the evacuation of patients . The Mulonde area, 500 km from Lubumbashi and 100 km from the Zambian border, is in fact extremely isolated, without adequate infrastructure.

Katumbi points out that this is not the first time he has undertaken such work, recalling that he has already carried out similar initiatives in Pweto, Kashobwe and Kiubo , without this provoking any reaction from the authorities. He therefore questions the real motivation behind this sudden government concern.

A tense political context

Beyond the formal accusations, many observers see in this affair a political maneuver orchestrated by the power in place to weaken a potentially dangerous rival in the run-up to the next elections. Moïse Katumbi, an opposition figure and former governor of Katanga, is seen as one of Félix Tshisekedi 's main opponents in the upcoming presidential elections. His party, Ensemble pour la République, quickly denounced this military raid as an attempt at intimidation aimed at blocking their leader's activities.

Tensions between the Tshisekedi camp and Katumbi are not new. Since Katumbi left the government coalition, relations have deteriorated, with each camp multiplying low blows and accusations. In this tense climate, the Mulonde track affair is only the latest episode in a political confrontation that is intensifying as the elections approach.

What will happen next in the investigation?

The authorities have promised to shed light on the case. The investigation, conducted jointly by the army and the intelligence services, must determine whether this lead really poses a threat to national security or whether it is, as Katumbi claims, a purely charitable project. In the meantime, this affair fuels suspicions in an already poisonous climate where security issues are mixed with political strategies.

The mystery surrounding the Mulonde airstrip goes beyond simple logistics. It reveals the intensity of political tensions in the DRC, where every move is scrutinized in an atmosphere of permanent suspicion. For Katumbi, this work is part of a humanitarian approach aimed at opening up a remote region. For the authorities, the airstrip could become a tool for destabilization. One thing is certain: as elections approach, the slightest initiative by the opposition will be interpreted as an attempt to seize power.