Spoliation of a concession of the Mobutu estate: General Sylvano Kasongo accused of complicity
In a case that is causing a stir in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), General Sylvano Kasongo, police commissioner for the city of Kinshasa, is accused of covering up the spoliation of a concession belonging to the estate of former President Mobutu Sese -Seko. The facts were revealed by the lawyer advising the family of Mobutu, who denounces manipulation on the part of Congolese political and police personalities.
The concession in question, located in the commune of Kalamu in Kinshasa, was registered in the name of the Maman Mobutu Foundation, the personal work of the late Marie Antoinette Mobutu. According to the lawyer, the concession was acquired legally by Mr. Patient Musaka in 1986, following a purchase from the liquidator of the assets of the foundation. However, Congolese political and police figures, including General Sylvano Kasongo and the current Minister of Social Affairs Modeste Mutinga, interfered in this affair by favoring a Lebanese in the anarchic construction on this private property.
Patient Musaka’s counsel also points to a letter dated April 18, 2018, in which the former Minister of Land Affairs alerted the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action to the attempted spoliation of the concession. Despite the intervention of the former minister, the situation was not resolved and General Sylvano Kasongo reportedly even arrested the police officers in charge of guarding the concession, in complicity with the FARDC military prosecutor.
This case highlights the issues related to land ownership in the DRC, where spoliation and illegal construction are commonplace. It also raises questions about the impunity that certain political and police figures seem to enjoy, who do not hesitate to use their power to promote personal interests.
Congolese justice must seriously investigate these accusations of spoliation and complicity, in order to restore the truth and guarantee respect for the property rights of citizens. It is essential to put an end to these practices which contribute to instability and injustice in the country