** Kinshasa: a military hearing that awakens political tensions between PPRD and power in place **
The political climate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is marked by growing tension. The hearing of several emblematic figures of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), including Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, Aubin Minaku and Ferdinand Kambere, took place on March 10 at the Military Auditor in Kinshasa, plunging the country into a new political turmoil. This moment could be implications not only on the judicial level, but also in terms of political dynamics likely to redraw the Congolese landscape.
### A historical context
The hearing is part of mutual suspicion and historical tensions between the PPRD, formerly during the reign of Joseph Kabila, and the current government led by Félix Tshisekedi. Through decades, Congolese policy has often been marked by cycles of demonstrations, repression and attempts to legitimize through judicial institutions. The PPRD, although politically marginalized, still shows rooting in society, where its bases popularized the ideology of the past.
The sentence of Aubin Minaku, “the chief said finished the moment of clandestine actions”, seems to illustrate a desire to clarify the position of the PPRD as a political actor, marking a critical stage in a dialogue which has been dragging on for years. This question of “clandestine actions” highlights the names in Congolese policy – between legitimacy and clandestinity, representativeness and manipulation.
### A perception of relentlessness
Ferdinand Kambere’s reaction also indicates a conceptual power struggle. He echoes a narrative well established in the country: that of a power which fears the return of an old adversary and who seeks to silence an opposition capable of resurfaced. According to him, it becomes obvious that this series of auditions is part of a museum strategy of the opposing voice, lightening existing tensions.
The Common Front for Congo (FCC), a political platform gathered around Joseph Kabila, for its part, adopts a victimization speech. The accusations of “intimidation attempts” are recurring in political discourse in the Congo, echoing a feeling of impunity within the ancient elements of power. The question that arises is whether allegations can really hinder the movement of a political party determined to keep its relevance on the national scene.
### A fight for image and legitimacy
From a strategic point of view, whether for the PPRD or for the FCC, these events raise important issues related to the image. The ability of a party to distance themselves from accusations of insurrection or connection with rebel movements largely determines its political survival. The rhetoric around the transformation of the PPRD into an insurrectionary movement evokes memories of episodes spent in the Congo where parties or groups were assimilated to threats to public order, thus justifying repression.
Statistics reveal that the Congolese political arena has often witnessed military mutinies or clashes between political groups. If we examine the 2018 elections, where the PPRD and the FCC have been widely criticized for their style of governance, it is not surprising to see the appearance of an opposition on the defensive.
### Towards a recomposition of the political scene
The current situation could be the catalyst for a longer-term political recomposition. While the PPRD and the FCC engage in a battle for their respective legitimities, the political scene could be revitalized by the emergence of new voices, new movements, even new alliances.
Paradoxically, by seeking to suffocate an opposition, the power in place could cause an unexpected reaction from the populations. The fact that the PPRD declares that they want to fight for power by “democratic paths” deserves to be taken seriously, because it indicates a desire for participation, unlike past where violence and repression served as a tool.
### Conclusion
These hearings in the military auditor are only the visible manifestation of a deep cleavage that continues within Congolese politics, a confrontation between the old and the new, between personal ambitions and the aspirations of the population. While tensions increase, one thing is certain: the DRC is a decisive turning point where crucial choices must be made, both for the power in place and for the opposition. The way these struggles will be expressed will be decisive not only for political peace, but also for the future development of the country.