Last week, Fatshimétrie published a powerful report which caused a stir in Congolese political circles. Indeed, the explosive report from the NGO Center for Research in Public Finance and Local Development (CREFDL) highlights a real financial scandal within the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Fatshimétrie’s revelations, the office headed by Mboso would have spent no less than 90.2 million USD for the acquisition of 26 buses. The problem lies in the fact that these funds were allocated to the purchase of only 12 Coaster brand 30-seat buses, intended for transporting administrative staff, and 14 minibuses for service directors. A situation which raises questions about transparency and the management of public funds within the parliamentary institution.
The NGO’s revelations go even further, highlighting hyper-invoicing and a squandering of funds allocated to various projects within the National Assembly. Between 2021 and 2023, the public treasury would have spent nearly 227.9 million USD on the remuneration of senators and national deputies, with sometimes double remuneration for members of the Mboso office. A situation which raises questions about the management of public resources and the integrity of political leaders.
The NGO CREFDL points to a waste of public resources and denounces massive and abusive recruitment within both houses of Parliament, with a dizzying increase in numbers. These revelations shed harsh light on the governance of institutions and underline the need for increased and transparent control of public spending.
Furthermore, on a completely different register, Fatshimétrie reports a major economic event for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, a historic agreement was reached between the Sama government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the latest review of the three-year agreement under the Extended Credit Facility. This agreement should make it possible to free up more than 200 million USD to strengthen the country’s international reserves, and pave the way for new economic prospects.
In conclusion, the Fatshimétrie revelations highlight questionable practices within the Congolese National Assembly, but also highlight significant progress on the economic level. This information highlights the importance of transparent and accountable governance to guarantee the proper functioning of institutions and the economic development of the country.