There is a deepening rift between President Félix Tshisekedi and his former ally, exiled Ambassador Dany Banza, who is now threatening to unravel the regime, according to lecongoquonaime, a local publication.
Banza, once a roving ambassador and Katangese senator, was a pivotal figure in Tshisekedi’s early presidency, leveraging his influence to navigate Katanga’s mining-driven politics.
He secured key alliances and propelled his protégé, Sama Lukonde, to the premiership and later the Senate presidency.
Banza’s discreet financial maneuvers, including funneling cash between Katanga and Kinshasa and stashing presidential funds in Monaco and tax havens, reportedly built him a US$250 million fortune.
The alliance fractured when Tshisekedi explored revising the Constitution to extend his presidency.
Ambassador Banza, shaped by his past opposition to similar moves by Joseph Kabila, advised against it, a stance Tshisekedi viewed as betrayal.
Exiled to Monaco and the Côte d’Azur, Ambassador Banza now lives under threat as Tshisekedi seeks to dismantle his network.
The purge has already ousted Vital Kamerhe from the National Assembly presidency amid allegations of embezzling US$100 million in oil funds.
The Senate, led by Lukonde, is next, with Tshisekedi backing 95-year-old Mukamba to take control and curb Ambassador Banza’s Katangese influence.
Tensions peaked in summer 2025 when the exiled diplomat backed out of a deal to return and pledge loyalty, humiliating Tshisekedi.
The president has since intensified efforts to isolate Banza’s allies, particularly targeting Lukonde. Yet Banza remains a potent threat, hinting he could reveal secrets about mining deals, cash flows, and hidden accounts.
A Lualaba leader told lecongoquonaime, “Dany Banza holds the memory of Katanga’s deals. If he speaks, Tshisekedi’s regime could collapse.”
As Tshisekedi consolidates power, his pursuit of Banza risks turning a former confidant into a dangerous adversary.
Source: Lecongoquonaime