Moise Katumbi

Powerful Democratic Republic of Congo opposition figure Moise Katumbi, who has said he will run for the presidency, left the country for South Africa on Friday.

Katumbi, who is seeking medical care and faces a trial at home for threatening state security, left aboard a plane which took off from Lubumbashi at 8:03 pm (1803 GMT), an AFP correspondent said, just hours after the DR Congo authorities said he was free to travel abroad.

Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told AFP earlier that Katumbi “asked for conditional release covered by a medical certificate saying he needed appropriate care abroad. The prosecutor agreed to the request and authorised his departure.”

Katumbi arrived at the airport by ambulance which drove straight up to a waiting plane. According to airport sources he was accompanied by his wife and a doctor on his way to Johannesburg.

The 51-year-old businessman is President Joseph Kabila’s leading rival for the country’s top job after recently announcing plans to stand against the long-serving head of state.

Immediately after that, judicial authorities opened an inquiry on May 4 alleging that Katumbi had hired foreign mercenaries.

Katumbi said the case, which followed the arrest of four of his bodyguards, including an American, was politically motivated.

He could face the death sentence, which is routinely commuted to life in prison.