Family members of President Felix Tshisekedi in Belgium are people of interest for the Belgian judicial branch, it has emerged from impeccable sources.
Raided homes include Tshisekedi’s nine relatives, including the First Lady and various family members and close associates.
The carefully coordinated impromptu search has been going on since October 14th conducted by Belgian Judicial police.
Sources privy with the case revealed that these raids aim to help in an inquiry into money laundering and embezzlement of public assets.
The persons of interest are linked to alleged plunder and laundering of mineral revenues.
The raids have thrown into panic Congolese community in Belgium.
Congolese diaspora in Belgium accuses Brussels of double standards.
“The Belgian justice system has chosen to conduct highly publicized procedures and searches on Belgian territory. The approach, methods, and timing of these interventions raise serious questions of neutrality,” groups of Congolese diaspora said in a joint statement.
In the joint statement, the groups noted that the current approach of the Belgian judicial authorities is producing several negative effects.
According to these groups, the Belgium sanctioned investigation of Tshisekedi Family members and associates is weakening national cohesion back home.
According to them, these initiatives sow doubt and division within the Congolese community, thus weakening the efforts against the FRN rebels.
The groups also questioned Brussels motive especially wondering about the timing of the inquiry conducted two days after former president Joseph Kabila declared war against the Tshisekedi regime.
“The Congolese diaspora organizations therefore call for an urgent awareness on the part of the Belgian authorities of the political, diplomatic, and security consequences of these proceedings,” the statement reads in part.
“We demand strict respect for the sovereignty of the Congolese people and insist that justice not become, through its timing or methods, a tool for weakening a state already facing serious external aggression,” the statement adds.
However, Maxime Prévot Belgian Foreign Minister, has rejected rejected any link between the recent searches carried out in Belgium as part of a legal procedure targeting members of the Congolese president’s entourage.
Prévot on October 21st while appearing before the Belgian Chamber of Representatives denounced a disinformation campaign likely to weaken bilateral relations between the two countries and affirmed that this legal action was not subject to any political influence from the Belgian government.
