Opposition Youth Onokomba Moved to Makala Ahead of August Civil Hearing

Kinshasa, DRC, August 13, 2026 - Young opposition figure Nathanael Onokomba Shako has been transferred to Makala prison following approximately seven months of detention. Onokomba, who was initially arrested in December 2025 after a conference in Ngaliema, was first held at the CNC lockup before being moved to Ndolo military prison in January 2026. His transfer to Makala occurred in late July 2026, as confirmed by family sources.

Onokomba is scheduled to appear before the Kinshasa/Gombe Tribunal de grande instance on August 21, 2026. His case gained attention after the military court decided to drop the charges against him at the end of June 2026. He had faced serious allegations, including apology of terrorism and denial of crimes against humanity and war crimes related to social media posts that allegedly minimized the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo (AFC) and the M23 group in eastern DRC.

The circumstances surrounding Onokomba's arrest and subsequent detention have raised concerns among human rights advocates, who argue that his imprisonment is politically motivated. His case reflects broader tensions within the DRC, particularly regarding freedom of expression and the treatment of opposition figures. As the August civil hearing approaches, observers are closely monitoring the developments in this high-profile case.