Kinshasa: Escalation of political tensions, Ecidé and Nouvel Élan on the brink of a legal battle

In an increasingly tense context in Kinshasa, a new confrontation is looming. The Ecidé and the Nouvel Élan, two major political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo, find themselves in an explosive situation that could lead to a court confrontation.

Albert Mukubulundu, spokesman for Nouvel Élan, accuses Ecidé supporters of having ransacked their provincial headquarters in Masina, causing significant material damage on July 29, 2023. According to him, videos circulating on social networks show young men, supposedly Ecidé activists, throwing stones at the headquarters of their party shouting “thief… we don’t need you here. The Tshangu district belongs to Martin Fayulu and his resisters will take care of any other party that would come to establish its stronghold here.”