“Chinese contract scandal 2008-2023 in the DRC”
The recent scandal surrounding the Chinese contract from 2008 to 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo provokes strong reactions from the Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP) and the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADHO ). During a joint press conference, these two entities denounced the silence of the Congolese justice system in the face of abuses perpetrated in the management of this controversial contract.
The conclusions of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) highlighted cases of overbilling, irregular and unjustified payments, thus highlighting the need to act against those who took undue advantage of this mining agreement. ODEP and ASADHO have announced their intention to prosecute those involved, regardless of their level of responsibility.
Despite the renegotiation of the contract which allowed a rebalancing of advantages in favor of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the two civil society organizations deplore a form of impunity which surrounds those Congolese responsible for the abuses committed. They call for legal action to put an end to this impunity and demand that the guilty be held accountable before the law.
Maître Jean Claude Katende, president of ASADHO, underlines the importance of fighting against impunity and providing justice to the victims of these practices harmful to the Congolese state. He calls on the Congolese people to unite to demand that justice be done and that those responsible for these reprehensible acts be brought to justice.
In a context marked by disturbing revelations on the management of the Chinese contract, ODEP and ASADHO urge the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to take measures to punish all those who have enriched themselves to the detriment of the State . They insist on the need to shed light on this matter and to ensure that the perpetrators of the abuses answer for their actions before the courts.
In conclusion, the scandal surrounding the Chinese contract from 2008 to 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo raises crucial questions about transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. It highlights the need to fight corruption and ensure that those who abuse their power are held accountable for their actions.