In recent news from the DRC, a promising partnership is emerging between different agencies and state structures engaged in the fight against corruption. This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen measures to prevent and repress financial crimes, including the embezzlement of public funds. Recently brought together in Kinshasa at a workshop organized by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), these agencies worked together to validate a memorandum of understanding aimed at pooling their efforts and strengthening their professional capacities in the fight against corruption.
Nicke Elebe, IDLO Country Director, underlines the importance of this initiative which aims to unite the forces of the different stakeholders in the face of a common enemy that undermines Congolese society as a whole. According to him, corruption is a complex and multifaceted scourge that requires a collaborative and coordinated approach to be effectively combated. This strengthened collaboration between anti-corruption agencies is essential to improve the effectiveness of actions taken against this scourge which hinders the country’s development.
Indeed, despite its position among the most corrupt countries in the world according to Transparency International, the DRC does not lack human and technical resources to fight this scourge. Nicke Elebe insists on the fact that coordination between the different stages of the fight against corruption, ranging from prevention to sanctions, is crucial to obtain tangible results. It is also necessary to strengthen the capacities of the agents involved in this fight, as highlighted by Jean-Paul Mushagalusa, expert and consultant at IDLO.
The discussions during this workshop brought together a diverse panel of agencies and structures, such as the Observatory for the Monitoring of Corruption and Professional Ethics (Oscep), the National Financial Intelligence Unit (Cenaref), the Court of Auditors, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Armp) and the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF). These discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration and coordination between these actors to effectively fight corruption in the DRC.
In conclusion, the establishment of this partnership between the anti-corruption agencies of the DRC represents a significant step forward in the fight against corruption. This strengthened collaboration should improve the relevance and effectiveness of actions taken to prevent and suppress acts of corruption, thus contributing to promoting good governance and restoring citizens’ confidence in public institutions.