Moise Katumbi 'injured' on Friday as he attends court hearing

DRC’s opposition leader Moise Katumbi is said to have been assaulted by police on Friday as he arrived in a court in Lubumbashi for a hearing over controversial allegations that he had hired foreign mercenaries.

According to his lawyers, the flamboyant businessman was assaulted by the police who also fired teargas to disperse thousands of his supporters who had gathered outside the court.

Former #Katanga province Governor Moise #Katumbi admitted to hospital for exhaustion and teargas poisoning. #DRC pic.twitter.com/VhhlUFNFtB

— Kennedy Gondwe (@KennedyGondwe) May 13, 2016

However, a senior security official denied the allegations and said that 6 policemen had been injured in the fracas.

The former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province who recently declared his intention to run for presidency, claims the investigations launched against him are politically motivated.

Katumbi broke ties with his former ally president Joseph Kabila in September. Kabila is under pressure to step down but there are concerns that he plans to extend his tenure despite being constitutionally barred from running for a third term.

AFP