Congo’s Minister of Justice Constant Mutamba resigned Wednesday. His departure follows an investigation into alleged $19 million embezzlement. These substantial funds were reportedly designated for a new prison in Kisangani.
Mutamba, 37, released a statement announcing his decision. He vehemently claimed the legal actions against him constitute a plot. He attributed this alleged conspiracy to the Rwandan government and “mafia networks.”
This former presidential candidate had a controversial past. Earlier this year, he advocated severe penalties for journalists. He proposed the death penalty for those covering Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.
Appointed in 2024, Mutamba initially championed anti-corruption efforts. Yet, his nation profoundly struggles with pervasive graft. Congo’s rich mineral wealth tragically contrasts with its population’s deep poverty.