Muanda Nsemi
{{Short description|Congolese religious leader and politician (1946–2023)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Muanda Nsemi
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Zacharie Badiengila
| birth_date = {{birth date text|1946}}
| birth_place = Luozi Territory, Belgian Congo
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2023|10|18|77|df=y}}
| death_place = Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| nationality = Congolese
| other_names =
| occupation = Religious leader
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| party = BDK
| office = Leader of Bundu dia Kongo
| term_start = 1986
| term_end = 18 October 2023
| predecessor = Position established
| successor = TBD
}}
Zacharie Badiengila, known as Ne Muanda Nsemi, (1946 – 18 October 2023) was a Congolese religious leader and politician.{{cite news |last=Nsimba|first=Socrate|date=18 October 2023|title=En RDC, décès du leader politico-religieux Ne Muanda Nsemi|trans-title= |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1494868/politique/en-rdc-deces-du-leader-politico-religieux-ne-muanda-nsemi/|language=French|work=Jeune Afrique|location=Kinshasa|access-date=20 October 2023}} He was leader of the political and religious movement Bundu dia Kongo (BDK).{{cite news |last= |first= |date=19 October 2023|title=RDC: Mort de Ne Muanda Nsemi, figure de l'histoire politique et religieuse congolaise|trans-title= |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20231019-rdc-mort-de-ne-muanda-nsemi-figure-de-l-histoire-politique-et-religieuse-congolaise|language=French|work=Radio France Internationale|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}}
Biography
Born in Luozi Territory in 1946, Badiengila took on the name Ne Muanda Nsemi, which means "the creative spirit" in Kikongo. He resided in Kinshasa and was a chemist by occupation. He considered himself a spiritual heir of Simon Kimbangu, a preacher and prophet of Kimbanguism. He also defined himself as a political heir of Joseph Kasa-Vubu, who served as President and supported the resurrection of the Kingdom of Kongo. Like his mentors, he came from the former Bas-Congo.{{cite news |last=Gras|first=Romain|date=1 May 2020|title=RDC : dix choses à savoir sur Ne Muanda Nsemi, le chef de la secte Bundu dia Kongo|trans-title= |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/938027/politique/rdc-dix-choses-a-savoir-sur-ne-muanda-nsemi-le-chef-de-la-secte-bundu-dia-kongo/|language=French|work=Jeune Afrique|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}}
Nsemi founded the BDK in 1969, but officially created the organization in 1986 to expand into politics, as it was originally a cultural association. He wrote several works in Kikongo, including Mvutu kua PSV, a response to the Spiritual Power of the Verb of Bavua Ntinu André. He served in the National Assembly and was an unsuccessful candidate for Vice-Governor.
Nsemi was accused of translating texts of the PSV without express authorization in order to teach them to his followers. During the 2006 elections, he accused President Joseph Kabila of being a "Rwandan who wants to monopolize the DRC", and his movement participated in the {{ill|Bas-Congo riots of February 2007|fr|Émeutes du Bas-Congo de février 2007}}.{{cite news |last=Benetti|first=Pierre|date=29 May 2017|title=Où est passé Ne Muanda Nsemi, vieux rebelle fugitif de la prison de Kinshasa ?|trans-title= |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/05/29/ou-est-passe-ne-muanda-nsemi-vieux-rebelle-fugitif-de-la-prison-de-kinshasa_5135604_3212.html|language=French|work=Le Monde|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}} Another clash broke out for several days in Kinshasa{{cite news |last=Leclerq|first=Hubert|date=24 April 2020|title=RDC : Echanges de feu nourris autour de la résidence de Ne Muanda Nsemi|trans-title= |url=https://afrique.lalibre.be/49548/rdc-echanges-de-feu-nourris-autour-de-la-residence-de-ne-muanda-nsemi/|language=French|work=La Libre Afrique|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}} and ended on 3 March 2017 by his arrest and incarceration at Makala Central Prison. He escaped during a planned jailbreak with the support of militants who started a fire at the penitentiary.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=10 May 2019|title=Retour en prison pour Ne Muanda Nsemi, gourou et chef sécessionniste|trans-title= |url=https://www.voaafrique.com/a/retour-en-prison-pour-ne-muanda-nsemi-gourou-et-chef-s%C3%A9cessionniste/4912238.html|language=French|work=Voice of America|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}}
Nsemi disappeared after his escape and was thought to be dead, but reappeared during the administration of Félix Tshisekedi in 2019.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=11 May 2019|title=RDC: Ne Muanda Nsemi, le leader de Bundu dia Kongo, finalement libéré|trans-title= |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20190511-rdc-muanda-nsemi-le-leader-bundu-dia-kongo-finalement-libere-prison|language=French|work=Radio France Internationale|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}} Initially hoping for amnesty from {{ill|Joseph Olenghankoy|fr}}, he then accused Tshisekedi of marrying a Rwandan woman. He carried out another attack in March 2020 in different towns in the Kongo Central province.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=19 May 2020|title=RD Congo : Répression sanglante du mouvement Bundu dia Kongo|trans-title= |url=https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2020/05/19/rd-congo-repression-sanglante-du-mouvement-bundu-dia-kongo|language=French|work=Human Rights Watch|location=Kinshasa|access-date=20 October 2023}} He was arrested the following month and admitted to a neuro-psychopathical center in Kinshasa.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=7 May 2020|title=Ne Muanda Nsemi : témoignage troublant de son " 2me Bureau "|trans-title= |url=https://www.lephareonline.net/ne-muanda-nsemi-temoignage-troublant-de-son-2me-bureau/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127104345/https://www.lephareonline.net/ne-muanda-nsemi-temoignage-troublant-de-son-2me-bureau/|archivedate=27 January 2021|language=French|work= Le Phare|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}} Some MPs pleaded with authorities in his favor, and he was released after long negotiations.{{cite news |last=Dianzenza|first=Lucien|date=4 August 2020|title=Déshospitalisation de Muanda Nsemi : le chef spirituel de BDM affirme avoir enterré la hache de guerre|trans-title= |url=https://www.adiac-congo.com/content/deshospitalisation-de-muanda-nsemi-le-chef-spirituel-de-bdm-affirme-avoir-enterre-la-hache|language=French|work=ADIAC TV|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}} He apologized to Tshisekedi and the first lady.{{cite news |last=Mbuyi|first=Gisèle|date=2 November 2020|title=RDC : Denise Nyakeru chez Ne Muanda Nsemi|trans-title= |url=https://www.digitalcongo.net/article/5fa01e9b34d930001750464d/|language=French|work=Digital Congo Radio Télévision|location=Kinshasa|access-date=20 October 2023}}
Ne Muanda Nsemi died in Kinshasa on 18 October 2023, at the age of 77.{{cite news |last=Mampuya|first=Christian|date=18 October 2023|title=RDC : Décès de Ne Muanda Nsemi, chef spirituel de la secte religieuse Bundu Dia Mayala|trans-title= |url=https://mbote.cd/actualites/politique/rdc-deces-de-ne-muanda-nsemi-chef-spirituel-du-secte-religieux-bundu-dia-mayala/146277/|language=French|work=MBOTE.cd|location= |access-date=20 October 2023}}
References
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Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians
Category:20th-century religious leaders