After months of silence, Congolese opposition leader and former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has re-emerged from exile, breaking his silence following his controversial conviction in the high-profile Bukanga Lonzo case.
Matata, who served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2016 and currently heads the Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD) party, had vanished from public view shortly after a ruling by the Constitutional Court in May 2025.
His party confirmed on Saturday that he is alive, under protection, and has left the Democratic Republic of Congo due to what they describe as ongoing violations of his constitutional rights.
“The former Prime Minister is alive and under protection, but forced to leave the DRC following violations of his constitutional rights,” stated LGD Secretary General Franklin Tshiamala Manyiku during a press conference.
On May 20, 2025, the Constitutional Court sentenced Matata to 10 years of forced labor over alleged embezzlement in the Bukanga Lonzo agro-industrial project.
The court also ordered a five-year ban on his political participation and the seizure of assets equivalent to more than $156 million, with an additional $89 million connected to a South African partner, Christo Grobler. His immediate arrest was also mandated.
Matata’s defense team has rejected the verdict, calling it unconstitutional.
They argue the court reversed a previous decision declaring itself unfit to try a former Prime Minister, a move many legal analysts say sets a dangerous precedent. Critics claim the judiciary is being manipulated for political ends, undermining judicial independence.
According to LGD, Matata has faced relentless pressure for four years, including invasive searches, property destruction, house arrest, and even alleged attempts at poisoning.
The party also reports travel restrictions affecting his daughter and wife.
Calling the trial “unfair, sensationalist and political,” the LGD warns that the court’s decision sends a chilling message about political freedoms in the DRC.
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