
President Félix Tshisekedi recently visited Nkamba, the holy place of the Kimbanguist Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This visit, which lasted four hours, was an opportunity to honor the memory of Simon Kimbangu, founder of the Church, and to celebrate the birth of his spiritual successor, Papa Simon Kimbangu Kiangani. This unprecedented visit could be a sign of a rapprochement between political power and the Kimbanguist Church, which has millions of faithful across the country. However, this visit also provoked diverse reactions, with some voices criticizing its political nature and its potential violation of the separation between the state and religious institutions. The impact of this visit on the Congolese political and religious landscape remains to be seen.