DRC: Félix Tshisekedi and his war on corruption

It has been two weeks since the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, took a stand against the corruption that plagues his country. How did he start this “clean-up” campaign?

“Some of our compatriots had badly negotiated mining contracts. Worse, the little that would go to the State, they put it in their own pockets ”, said Félix Tshisekedi in May. Before continuing: "I am tired of seeing foreigners come here with empty pockets and leave as billionaires, while we remain poor," he accused.

Thus, the Congolese president announced his intentions regarding the corruption from which the DRC suffers. There is something. The country is among the 5 most corrupt countries in Africa and in the top 20 worldwide! The DRC is however full of wealth. Copper, uranium, gold, diamonds, radium, natural gas and oil lie beneath fertile Congolese land. The DRC also holds more than 77% of the world's cobalt reserves. The material is necessary and unavoidable in the manufacture of electronic components.

🔴#RDC A mafia network of executives from @FCC_RDC and faithful of Joseph #Kabila. 8 people had treasury credit cards with the capacity to withdraw $ 50.000 per month. #CORRUPTION pic.twitter.com/q3cgRlsYyR

— AfriqueTweet💙 (@AfriqueTweet) June 4, 2021

Tshisekedi-Kabila: the point of no return

From this meeting in Kolwezi, the activists of former president Joseph Kabila activated on social networks to attack Felix Tshisekedi. Indeed, the accusation of the Head of State was aimed above all at his former ally and predecessor. International justice had to condemn businessmen close to the Kabila regime in order to highlight the wrongs of corruption in the DRC.

The conviction of Beny Steinmetz and the sanctions against Dan Gertler awakened a large part of the political class in the DRC. Indeed, these Israeli billionaires have plundered the DRC for decades without giving anything in return. Worse still, President Kabila was an accomplice, and turned a blind eye to the humanitarian and socio-political situation that resulted.

But it is not only this that has motivated Félix Tshisekedi to break his alliance with Kabila since February. As well as to attack his decisions at the head of the DRC later. Rather, the Congolese state is organically too decentralized. And some regional and local officials have become millionaires and corruptible over the past two decades.

This trend would also, if we do not believe the justice of the DRC, reached the top of the government. Former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo, is accused of money laundering and embezzlement of public funds in particular. Former President Kabila also faces legal action similar for months.

Joseph Kabila is an archetype of corruption and mediocrity in Congo and Africa.

- Maria Ntusani Mpenge (@MariaNtusani) March 10, 2021

These people who fight against corruption in the DRC

Two key figures stand behind the fight against corruption in the DRC. The first is the Inspector General of Finance, Jules Alingete Key. He is a member of Félix Tshisekedi's cabinet. The second is Jean-Claude Mputu, an opponent, as well as the spokesperson for the movement Congo is not for sale (CNPAV).

Aligngete, for his part, has spent the past few weeks tracking down state officials implicated in corruption in the DRC. He decided this week to suspend the bank accounts of several of them. He was also the instigator of the investigation around Ponyo. Several close to Tshisekedi were against his appointment as head of the General Inspectorate of Finance. However, the president had recognized in Jules Alingete Key the ideal person for the post. In addition to his specialization in the audit of economic studies, he was perfectly apolitical before his appointment. For reason, Alingete had conducted most investigations against the state for years.

As for Mputu, he represents civil society in the fight against corruption. He has been one of the highest voices in the mining company scandals. He often highlighted the inequalities of concession laws and mining permits. Jean-Claude Mputu has often denounced Dan Gertler for the looting of its companies of mining deposits in the DRC. Nevertheless, Mputu is an opponent of the Congolese president. He believes that the new legal texts governing mining permits bring income to the State. And that this money not be distributed in the regions where the resources are collected.

In any case, since the suspension of the bank accounts of certain public administrators in the DRC, Félix Tshisekedi has faced a lot of criticism. Nevertheless, he has embarked on a difficult path, will he manage to stay the course?

No, do not have amnesia, in Kabila's time people who diverted were not arrested or arrested, you must not hide good works because you do not like Felix, isn't it that corruption has killed your country?
Why do you forget about things so quickly?

— 𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 🦅 (@Eljonathanlife) May 30, 2021