BRUSSELS, Belgium – Belgian police have searched the homes of several relatives and associates of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to mining revenues, lawyers representing complainants have said.
The searches, conducted on Wednesday, October 14, add to pressure on Tshisekedi as his government faces security challenges in eastern Congo, a deadly Ebola outbreak and growing opposition criticism over allegations that he intends to seek a third presidential term.
Belgian lawyer Bernard Maingain and France-based Congolese attorney Herve Diakese, who represent a group of non-governmental organisations from the southern Katanga province known as DESC/RDC, said the raids followed a complaint filed in Brussels in 2025.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that police had conducted searches at several addresses in Brussels and its northern and southern suburbs as part of a money-laundering investigation stemming from the complaint.
However, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office declined to confirm whether the individuals targeted were relatives of Tshisekedi.
The Congolese presidency declined to comment.
Complaint Targets Alleged Misappropriation Of Mining Revenues
The lawyers said the complaint concerns alleged misappropriation of mining revenues and the laundering of proceeds from resources they say belong to local communities and the Congolese state.
“The complaint in Belgium concerns the capture of resources by Belgian citizens and the laundering of funds derived from the misappropriation of mining revenues and resources belonging to local communities, to the detriment of the Congolese state,” Diakese said.
He alleged that the proceeds had enabled those involved to maintain lifestyles far beyond what their legitimate incomes would support.
“These proceeds have enabled those involved to maintain lifestyles far beyond what their legitimate income would allow,” he added.
The complaint was filed in Belgium because several of the people named are Belgian citizens residing in the country, according to the lawyers.
Diakese said it targeted members of Tshisekedi’s immediate family as well as people from a wider circle of associates close to the president.
The allegations have not been established in court, and Belgian authorities have not publicly confirmed the identities of those whose homes were searched.
Congo’s Mineral Wealth Under Scrutiny
The investigation comes as the Congolese government seeks to attract investment into the country’s mining sector, which holds some of the world’s largest reserves of copper, cobalt and other strategic minerals.
Despite its mineral wealth, Congo’s mining industry has long faced corruption allegations and concerns over how revenues from natural resources are distributed.
The outcome of the Belgian investigation could bring renewed scrutiny to the management of mining proceeds and the links between business interests and political figures.
Tshisekedi Faces Security And Political Pressure
The searches come at a difficult time for Tshisekedi’s administration.
Eastern Congo continues to face insecurity linked to an armed rebellion, while the country is also dealing with a deadly Ebola outbreak.
Opposition figures have additionally criticised what they allege are Tshisekedi’s plans to seek a third term, although such allegations remain politically contested.
The Belgian investigation is separate from those domestic challenges but adds another issue of scrutiny for the Congolese president and people in his wider circle.
For now, Belgian prosecutors have confirmed the searches and the existence of a money-laundering investigation, but have not publicly identified the people targeted or confirmed their relationship to Tshisekedi.
