There is serious political tension in Democratic Republic of Congo right now.
On October 15, 2026, Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani announced ban on activities of 13 political parties including the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), the party that ruled under former President Joseph Kabila.
Other parties affected include Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD) led by Matata Ponyo, Seth Kikuni's PISTE-E, and Claudel Lubaya's Union for African Democracy (UDA).
The government said provincial governors will enforce the ban. The reason is linked to the creation of a new politico-military movement called National Refoundation Front (FRN) in Goma, eastern DRC, which is reportedly led by former President Kabila.
Government says it wants to prevent destabilization. But opposition figures say this is repression and an attempt to close political space. Many young people in Kinshasa are protesting the ban, saying democracy is in danger.
This ban comes at a time when eastern Congo is still facing heavy fighting and millions of people displaced. The next few weeks will determine if the government will lift the ban or if more protests will happen.
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