Raphael Katebe Katoto begins Katanga consultations after years abroad

Businessman Raphael Katebe Katoto, elder brother of opposition leader Moïse Katumbi, returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo on 29 July 2026 after several years overseas. Arriving in Lubumbashi, the capital of the Haut‑Katanga province, he launched a series of consultations with local notables, church leaders, customary chiefs and other community figures.

The meetings are presented as an effort to listen to the concerns of Katanga’s population before taking any public position on national political, economic or security issues. While the consultations coincide with President Félix Tshisekedi’s tour of the region, officials have not confirmed that Katoto’s itinerary is part of an official presidential mission. His return revives a longstanding role as a strategic support to his brother’s opposition activities.