Abstract:
This paper is concerned with the transnational political activities of
Congolese nationals in Pretoria. The relationship between the migrants
is marked by ethno-regional and political rivalry between two groups
living in Pretoria, namely the 'combattants' and 'anti-combattants'. The
paper argues that there is a dialectical interaction between Congolese
transmigrant political activities, both in the Democratic Republic of
Congo and in South Africa.
These transnational political activities have an impact on both the
Congolese and the South African political scenes. Most importantly, the
intra-Congolese rivalry is not only intermittent, but some of its dynamics
are influenced by local politics back in the Democratic Republic of
Congo. Following ethnographic research conducted among Congolese
migrants between 2011 and 2013, this study revealed that grassroots
political activists performed a key role in the Congolese transnational
ethno-regional and political rivalry in Pretoria.
