V — Les Combattants: The Origins of a Congolese Diaspora Political Protest — Patrick B. Litanga

ABSTRACT: Joseph Kabila’s ascension to the presidency of the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo (DRC) in 2001, following the assassination of his father, Laurent Kabila,coincided with an uptick in political activism among the Congolese diaspora in WesternEurope and North America. Between 2004 and 2018, Congolese diaspora political groupsand personalities staunchly opposed Joseph Kabila’s regime through marches, petitions,boycotts, and even physical aggression against Congolese officials and Kabila’s supporters.Over time, these various Congolese diaspora protest groups became known as “LesCombattants”. This article examines how the recent political history of DRC led to theemergence of Les Combattants in the Congolese diaspora and the types of claims LesCombattants advanced against the Congolese state and the international community.Considering their geographic spread (in Western Europe and North America), the scope oftheir claims, and the longevity of their protest, this paper argues that Les Combattants’political resistance signaled a fundamental shift in the way Congolese diaspora politicalactivists interact with the Congolese state.KEYWORDS: Congolese Politics, African Diasporas, Political Resistance,Diaspora Political Mobilization