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 pending his trial 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.