S&K Supermarkets: S-MART SARL Denies Any Ties to the Kabila Family and Takes the Matter to Court

S-MART SARL, owner of S&K supermarkets, has categorically denied social media rumors claiming the chain belongs to the family of former president Joseph Kabila. In a statement dated October 16, 2026, and signed by its lawyer, Me Raphaël Kibuka Kia Kiese, the company said it has no ownership, affiliation, or other relationship with the family. It said it had contacted the competent authorities under the Digital Code and the Congolese Penal Code, and that the relevant accounts and posts were being documented to preserve evidence. S-MART SARL urged the public not to share unverified claims; the statement did not identify the courts approached or the origin of the posts.