SUMMARY
The conflict over Kongo Kingdom involved the Government of DR Congo (Zaire) and the politico-religious movement BDK (Bundu-dia-Kongo) and its police force known as Makesa. Founded by Ne Muanda Nsemi, BDK aimed to re-establish the pre-colonial Kongo Kingdom in Bas-Congo, clashing repeatedly with state security forces. Violence included violent protests, targeted attacks of police, and prison breaks.
IN DEPTH
Bundu-dia-Kongo
The Kongo Kingdom was a historical state established around 1400, spanning areas now in northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, western DR Congo, and Gabon. Colonial powers divided the region at the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference. Central Africa was divided between Portugal, France and King Leopold II of Belgium.
In 1986, Ne Muanda Nsemi formed BDK (Bundu-dia-Kongo; Kingdom of Kongo) a politico-religious movement rooted in Bakongo history and culture. Nsemi believed he had been sent by God to free his people. Nsemi claimed divine guidance to free his people, rejecting both Western and Eastern religions. He preached that the new Messias will come to liberate the black people. In 1992, Nsemi published the holy book Makongo. The group combined religion, politics, and science in its ideology and sought the re-establishment of the Kongo Kingdom belonging to the Bakongo people.
BDK repeatedly opposed DR Congo (Zaire) governments. Nsemi was imprisoned from 1995–1997 for secessionist activity but escaped during Laurent Kabila’s takeover. In 1998, BDK attempted to seize media offices to declare independence of Kongo provinces, resulting in clashes and ten deaths.
In 2002, Nsemi proclaimed himself king of the ancient kingdom, and BDK established Makesa, a police force, alongside its own national symbols. That year, security forces killed 14 adherents demanding Bas-Congo autonomy. In 2006, BDK demanded a larger share of national revenue from oil in Moanda.
Violence escalated in 2007 protested electoral corruption, leading to deadly clashes with security forces. Protests on 31 January and 1 February 2007 was followed by clashes with security forces, making the armed conflict active for the first time. Further confrontations occurred in 2008 after arrests of BDK members, leaving over a hundred dead. This event was followed by eight years without any activity.
New encounters between Congolese police and BDK activists broke out in late January 2017. In March 2017 Ne Muanda Nsemi was arrested by Congoloese police. On 17 May 2017 Makesa (the "fighters" of Bundu dia Kongo) freed Nsemi in an attack on the Makala jail of Kinshasa. Police also shot into crowds of BDK-members marching against President Joseph Kabila.
In 2020, BDK staged demonstrations to "chase the spirit of coronavirus," prompting government crackdowns. Nsemi declared Kongo Central independent and claimed the presidency of a “Federal Republic of Kongo Central.” Subsequent attempts to expel non-Kongo individuals led to further clashes with police. On 22 April 2020, security forces killed several BDK followers in Kinshasa during operations to detain Nsemi. Nsemi died of illness in October 2023, leaving the movement’s leadership uncertain.
