News: A diplomatic standoff between Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ambassador to Paris, Isabel Machik Tshombe, seems to be coming to an end.
Last December, Christophe Lutundula accused Isabel Machik Tshombe of financial embezzlement amounting to several million euros and invited her to return to Kinshasa before January 15, 2023.
However, the Council of State recently asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to suspend the decisions taken against the ambassador and to close the disciplinary procedure initiated against her. The Council of State also demanded that remuneration and benefits not received be paid to Isabel Machik Tshombe.
The charges brought by Christophe Lutundula are linked in particular to a cash deficit of the embassy as well as to payments not made for the benefit of the public treasury. He also suspects her of having granted illicit advantages to herself and to members of the diplomatic staff.
This case highlights the issues of financial management within diplomatic representations and raises questions about the transparency and integrity of public funds. It also highlights the complexity of diplomatic relations between the DRC and France.
It now remains to be seen how this situation will be resolved and what the consequences will be for those involved