Belgian police raid homes of Tshisekedi relatives in DRC mining money-laundering probe

By The Inspirer.

Belgian authorities have searched properties linked to relatives and associates of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering involving revenues from the country’s mining sector.

The searches took place on Wednesday, October 14, in Brussels and surrounding areas, including Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, following complaints filed in 2025 by Congolese non-governmental organisations and former directors of state-owned mining company Gécamines, according to Reuters.

Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that searches had been conducted at several addresses but declined to provide further details, citing the confidentiality of the investigation and the presumption of innocence.

Nine relatives and associates of Tshisekedi, reportedly all Belgian nationals, are under investigation over alleged involvement in the misappropriation of mining resources in the DRC’s Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces.

The case centres on allegations that mining revenues and resources intended to benefit local communities were diverted and that proceeds from the alleged wrongdoing were subsequently laundered.

Belgian lawyer Bernard Maingain and France-based Congolese lawyer Hervé Diakese, who represent a group of Congolese organisations known as DESC/RDC, said the complaint concerns the alleged handling of mining wealth by Belgian citizens.

Diakese alleged that funds obtained through the suspected misappropriation had enabled those involved to maintain lifestyles beyond what their legitimate incomes could support.

The allegations have not been proven in court. Being investigated or having a property searched does not establish that an individual has committed a crime.

The complaint was filed in Belgium because several of the individuals named are Belgian citizens living in the country, the lawyers said.

According to The Brussels Times, Tshisekedi and his wife, Denise Nyakeru, rent a property in Brussels’ Uccle neighbourhood, while their five children are reportedly enrolled in schools in Belgium. These reports do not, in themselves, establish any connection between the family’s residence and the alleged financial misconduct.

DRC’s mineral wealth under scrutiny

The investigation brings renewed attention to the management of the DRC’s vast mineral resources, particularly copper and cobalt, which are essential to electricity infrastructure, electric vehicles and other industrial technologies.

Despite its significant mineral wealth, the country continues to face widespread poverty and persistent questions about how revenues from natural resources are distributed between the state, companies and local communities.

The investigation is unfolding amid wider political and security challenges in the DRC, including armed conflict in the eastern region and opposition criticism of Tshisekedi’s political intentions. These developments are separate from the allegations being examined by Belgian authorities.

Belgium’s involvement also carries historical significance. The country ruled the Congo as a colony from 1908 until the DRC gained independence on June 30, 1960, following an earlier period of personal control over the territory by King Leopold II.

The current investigation, however, concerns alleged financial misconduct and must be assessed on the available evidence rather than the countries’ colonial history.

Belgian authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the evidence gathered or indicated when the investigation might be concluded.