**Unprecedented situation in front of the Prime Minister’s Office: Honorary deputies demand full payment of their exit allowances**
An unusual scene took place in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, December 8. Honorary deputies from the third legislature organized a sit-in to forcefully demand full payment of their exit allowances. Their action, remarkable to say the least, highlights the persistent dysfunction in the recognition of their legitimate rights.
These former parliamentarians, who sat during the period from 2018 to 2023, deplore a significant delay in the payment of their dues. The protesters’ demands are clear: they demand full payment of their exit allowances, including the travel document, which represents an estimated sum of nearly 35 billion Congolese francs, or approximately 12.3 million USD.
During this sit-in, a memorandum was delivered to the Prime Minister’s office, highlighting the frustration of the honorary deputies in the face of the administrative negligence of which they are victims. Willy Bolio, spokesperson for the collective, stressed that their request is not a whim, but a fundamental right enshrined in the texts governing the functioning of the institutions.
This protest movement is not the first of its kind. Indeed, during a recent plenary session of the National Assembly, an incident had already broken out, forcing the President of the Lower House, Vital Kamerhe, to publicly clarify the situation. He had then stated that the funds requested by the honorary deputies were already available in the bank, when in reality, only a small percentage of their allowances had been paid.
Faced with the current impasse, the former deputies have expressed their determination to continue their fight to win their case. They even promise to resort to other large-scale actions if their demands are not met before the end-of-year holidays.
This situation highlights the difficulties faced by many political actors in times of transition. It also underlines the importance of respecting rights and contractual commitments, even after the political mandate has ended. It is now essential that the competent authorities take concrete steps to resolve this dispute and avoid any escalation that could harm the image of the democratic institutions in place.