The financial scandal shaking the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023 raises crucial questions about transparency and the management of public resources. The report from the Center for Research in Public Finance and Local Development (CREFDL) reveals opaque management of more than $300 million between 2021 and 2023, mainly linked to the remuneration of senators and deputies.
According to information disclosed by the CREFDL, nearly $227.9 million was spent to pay parliamentarians during this period, with an annual average of $74 million. These figures, analyzed for the years 2021 and 2022, reveal in particular disparities in treatment between senators and national deputies.
The remuneration of parliamentarians, which would have reached $10,000 in 2023, is subject to opaque adjustments, in particular through the “special intervention fund” which is not properly traceable in the accountability reports. Changes to salary scales made without the vote of a budget collective legitimately raise questions about the transparency of these practices.
Furthermore, the double remuneration of members of the parliamentary office, both as national deputies and as members of the office, highlights worrying inconsistencies in the management of financial resources. This situation casts a veil over fairness and financial governance within the Congolese parliament.
The need for strengthened monitoring of public finances and increased transparency in the management of resources allocated to parliament is more crucial than ever. Compliance with the finance law in the process of disbursement of funds intended for parliament is essential to restore public confidence and ensure responsible management of public funds.
In short, this financial scandal in the DRC parliament in 2023 highlights the urgent need for an in-depth reform of control and transparency mechanisms, in order to guarantee sound and ethical management of public funds allocated to government institutions. Only exemplary governance can restore citizen confidence and prevent such abuses in the future.