Political issues in the province of Kasaï-Oriental continue to make headlines. Indeed, the governor of the province, Patrick Matthias Kabeya Matshi Abidi, was impeached by the provincial deputies during a plenary session. This decision follows the examination and adoption of the report of the parliamentary inquiry committees conducted last June.
The deputies criticized the governor for not having responded to the invitation of the commission of inquiry for 30 days, which was considered a “contempt of the first provincial institution”. In addition, accusations of embezzlement of public funds and vehicles intended for the province have been raised. The non-execution of the budget and the over-invoicing of the strategic reserves project were also pointed out.
This indictment concerns not only the governor, but also the provincial ministers of finance and agriculture, who are accused of complicity in the embezzlement. An adviser in charge of finance to the governor has also been made available to the judiciary.
Of the nineteen provincial deputies present during the plenary session, seventeen voted in favor of the impeachment of the governor. The latter promised to make an update in the coming hours.
These events come on top of the management problems that have already been raised in the province of Kasaï-Oriental. Indeed, the Inspector General of Finance had revealed in June 2023 the existence of two accounts not declared by the provincial governor, which had attracted the attention of various political and non-governmental organizations.
This indictment of the governor of the province of Kasaï-Oriental demonstrates the political stakes and the possible dysfunctions in the management of public resources. The next developments in this case will be closely monitored, as they will have a definite impact on the political situation in the province