On this weekend full of political twists and turns, the Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo unanimously adopted the budget for the 2025 financial year. A decision that disrupts the forecasts previously established by the National Assembly and could have a major impact on the country’s finances.
Indeed, the Senate decided to make a significant change to the budget by allocating an additional envelope of more than 418 billion Congolese francs, compared to that voted by the National Assembly. This unexpected increase has attracted the attention of the entire political class and sparked heated debates within Parliament.
The differences between the two chambers of Parliament have led to the establishment of a joint committee, responsible for harmonizing points of view and finding a consensus on this crucial issue. This meeting is proving to be essential for the smooth running of public affairs and ensuring the financial stability of the country.
One of the main reasons for this increase in the budget lies in the identification of a revenue line at the DGRAD level, omitted during the vote in the Assembly. This gap was filled by the Senate, leading to a global reassessment of revenue and expenditure for the year 2025.
At the same time, heated discussions took place regarding the distribution of expenditure, particularly with regard to investments and social sectors. The Senate emphasized a fair distribution of funds and the urgent need to return the 40% allocated to the provinces, a measure that is slow to be fully implemented.
The joint committee, meeting urgently this Saturday, will have to decide and reach a final agreement on the 2025 budget. In the event of persistent disagreement, the National Assembly will be given the final say, in accordance with the Constitution in force. A final version of the budget, taking into account or not the observations of the Senate, will then be submitted to the President of the Republic for promulgation.
This new budgetary situation raises many questions and promises lively debates in the days to come. The country’s financial balance is at stake, and the decisions taken by our political representatives will have a direct impact on the lives of all Congolese citizens. Let us remain attentive to the evolution of the situation and the decisions that result from it.