Military prosecutors in Kinshasa have arrested five Indian traders and sealed their warehouse in Limeté, in the heart of the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the discovery of a large stock of counterfeit military clothing, authorities announced on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
In Kinshasa and across the DRC, these fake military uniforms are known as “Zonkion,” a name coined by Congolese musician Papa Wemba, who died in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
This counterfeit military attire also gained fame in the musical group Wenge Musica, where it was referred to as “Pentagone.”
According to information received by the Congolese Press Agency (ACP), the first discovery was made in one warehouse on 8th Street in Limeté Commune, where 20 packages of fake military clothing were seized by military prosecutors.
A second discovery occurred on Friday in the same warehouse, revealing 85 more packages of the counterfeit uniforms.
In a video shared on social media, the head of the Limeté Commune visited the site and confirmed that the warehouse contained a large quantity of military-style clothing.
An internal report from Kinshasa, led by Governor Daniel Bumba, confirms that the seized items are fake military uniforms commonly referred to as “Zonkion” and “Pentagone,” and have no official connection to the national military, despite their similar appearance.
The warehouse has now been sealed by the military prosecutor’s office, and 31 packages have been stored at the Limeté municipal offices.
Due to national security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in the eastern region of the country, authorities have banned the wearing of these counterfeit military clothes in the DRC to “prevent infiltration.”
