Title: Report on the management of public funds for the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories in the DRC
Introduction :
The Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP) reveals in a report, published Thursday, July 27, a worrying reality concerning the management of public funds allocated to the Local Development Program of 145 Territories (PDL-145T) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ). According to the NGO, the Central Coordination Office (BCECO) is trying to escape the control of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) on the structures that have benefited from these funds. This situation raises serious concerns about the transparency and integrity of the management of public resources.
The refusal of the BCECO to submit to the control of the IGF:
According to ODEP, information collected from reliable sources indicates that the BCECO opposes the control of the IGF over its management of public funds intended for the PDL-145T. Despite rumors concerning a control by the Court of Auditors on the awarding of BCECO contracts, the ODEP affirms that this has not been confirmed by the 1st President of the Court of Auditors. The NGO believes that this resistance by BCECO hinders the proper functioning of the public procurement authority and calls into question the impartiality of the procurement process.
Consequences for the fight against corruption:
ODEP points out that the BCECO represents one of the main obstacles to transparency and integrity in public procurement. The organization denounces the practices of execution of contracts outside the BCECO system, which evade controls and promote the risk of corruption. Faced with this situation, ODEP reaffirms its plea for the abolition of the BCECO and the elimination of parallel structures and procedures, in accordance with the law on public procurement. It calls for collaboration between the various control institutions to effectively fight against corruption in the DRC.
Conclusion :
The management of public funds for the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories in the DRC is tainted by dubious practices and a lack of transparency on the part of BCECO. ODEP is sounding the alarm on the risks of corruption and abuse that weigh on the proper use of these resources. It is essential that the competent authorities, such as the IGF and the Court of Auditors, can carry out the necessary checks to guarantee the transparency and integrity of public procurement in the DRC