Micropanchax petnehazyi, new species, is described from ephemeral pools of the Tshipokokolo River basin, a right bank tributary of the Upper Lufira drainage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is identified as most similar to M. hutereaui. Both species share the overall diagnostic characters of similar male colour pattern characterised by the presence of dark transverse markings on the median fins; reticulate markings on the side; as well as cephalic sensory system of both sexes characterised by supraorbital canal in two short, discontinuous grooves, with exposed neuromasts; and postorbital and preopercular sensory systems tubular with pores. Micropanchax petnehazyi is distinguished from M. hutereaui by the following unique combination of characters in males: dorsal and anal fins with faint brown stripes perpendicular to fin rays (vs. curved stripes); anal fin with a faint brown margin and without a light submarginal band (vs. with dark brown margin and with light submarginal band); caudal fin with irregular vertical markings forming a reticulate pattern (vs. narrow vertical bands); as well as for both sexes preorbital sensory system in a shallow canal with three exposed neuromasts (vs. tubular with three pores); mandibular sensory system in open groove with small exposed neuromasts (vs. tubular with pores); smaller body depth at pelvic fin origin 25.3-28.7 % SL (vs. 30.0-32.3); smaller interorbital width 34-40 % HL (vs. 47-51); larger postorbital length 45-46 % HL (vs. 38-43); smaller suborbital depth 11-14 % HL (vs. 21-25); and larger caudal peduncle length 1.4 times of its depth (vs. 1.0-1.1).