A new armed group known as the Mouvement Debout Katanga pour la Libération du Congo (MDKC) has reportedly emerged in the former Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling on government soldiers to defect and join its ranks in a bid to overthrow the current administration.
In a video message, the group accused the government of President Félix Tshisekedi of mismanagement and repression since taking office in 2019. It alleged that political opponents and former soldiers from conflicts in eastern Congo have been arrested, forced into exile, or subjected to various forms of persecution.
The MDKC further claimed that Swahili-speaking communities from the Katanga region have been disproportionately targeted by state forces and allied groups, with reports of killings and arbitrary detentions.
Claims of Resource Exploitation
The group also accused government officials, including individuals linked to President Tshisekedi and his political party, of exploiting Katanga’s vast natural resources for personal gain. It says its mission is to put an end to what it describes as systemic looting and injustice.
“We have decided to end Félix Tshilombo’s rule using all means necessary,” the group stated, referring to the president by his other name.
Call for Defections
MDKC urged members of the armed forces from junior officers to generals as well as civilians to join their movement without hesitation, in what it described as a struggle to “liberate Katanga and the Congo from oppressive rule.”
According to sources in Katanga, the group was formed on February 21, 2026, and is believed by authorities to be operating from the Upemba National Park, particularly around the Lusinga area.
Government Response
The Congolese government has raised concerns that the new group may have links to other armed factions, including AFC/M23, which controls parts of North and South Kivu, as well as the Mai-Mai Bakata-Katanga militia advocating for Katanga’s independence.
The emergence of MDKC adds to the already complex security situation in eastern and southern Congo, where multiple armed groups continue to operate, posing challenges to stability and governance.
