Stopped at the airport while on his way to Rome for a C64 meeting, the opposition figure is now in the hands of justice. Those close to him denounced a “political kidnapping.”
Kinshasa – The public prosecutor’s office at the Kinshasa/Gombe High Court placed Prince Epenge under a provisional arrest warrant this Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Spokesperson for the Lamuka coalition and president of ADDCongo, he had been arrested two days earlier at N’djili International Airport as he was preparing to travel to Rome for the Article 64 Coalition (C64) conclave.
A departure blocked at N’djili
On Sunday, October 25, officers from the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) confiscated the passports of Martin Fayulu and Prince Epenge, who were preparing to board together. The passport of MP Jean-Baptiste Kasekwa was also held. The documents belonging to Martin Fayulu and his deputy were later returned, allowing them to travel, but not those of Prince Epenge.
Officers informed him that he had to respond to a court summons, which he claims he never received. His passport had previously been seized at N’djili on August 10.
Detained at the National Cyberdefense Council
According to our information, the opposition figure was detained on the premises of the National Cyberdefense Council before being transferred to the prosecutor’s office. Lamuka had accused this presidential intelligence agency of arresting him. The agency has been behind several dramatic arrests of opposition members and military officers over the past two years.
In the meantime, his party had alerted the public. ADDCongo called it a “political kidnapping,” demanded his immediate and unconditional release, and stated that his place of detention remained unknown.
Unofficial charges
The alleged offenses have not been made public. According to our information, Prince Epenge is being prosecuted for spreading false rumors in connection with the death of Manassé Lomboto during the latest opposition demonstration in Kinshasa. His lawyer denounced a worrying state of health. The investigation is scheduled to continue this Wednesday.
One point remains to be clarified. According to other media outlets, the summons is linked to an investigation into the death of a young activist from his party, for which he had called for an independent inquiry. We were unable to establish whether these two accounts refer to the same case.
A leading figure in the constitutional protest
Prince Epenge is one of the most vocal opposition figures regarding the constitutional debate. In May, he asserted that Article 220, which sets term limits, should not be altered, comparing it to the Strait of Hormuz. In April, Lamuka warned against any attempt to seek a third term, calling it a “divisive” proposal that could destabilize the nation.
On October 19, he questioned the refusal of an inclusive national dialogue on Radio Okapi, even as the security situation remains concerning. This is not the first time the movement has been targeted: about ten Lamuka activists were arrested in Kinshasa on March 24 while raising awareness among the population about an inclusive national dialogue.
What lies ahead
The coming hours will tell whether the provisional arrest warrant will be confirmed and what charges will be formally notified. The opposition, for its part, is unlikely to leave the matter unanswered.
The Editorial Staff
