The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Justice Minister, Constant Mutamba, is under intense scrutiny for alleged misappropriation of nearly $20 million in war reparations funds.
A parliamentary commission will question Mutamba, 37, on suspicions of graft linked to a $40 million prison project near Kisangani, the lower house speaker announced Wednesday.
Mutamba, appointed in May 2024, has gained notoriety for his fiery rhetoric and earlier calls to extend the death penalty to those who steal public funds.
The top prosecutor of the Court of Cassation requested the National Assembly to lift Mutamba’s parliamentary immunity to allow a full investigation into the allegations.
Vital Kamerhe, speaker of the lower house, said lawmakers would soon form a special commission to interrogate Mutamba before voting on prosecution approval.
The charges center on irregularities in awarding construction contracts to Zion Construction SARL, a company established in March 2024 with minimal staff and questionable capacity.
Mutamba allegedly bypassed public procurement rules by granting Zion Construction nearly half of the project’s budget—about $20 million—without Prime Minister approval.
The funds originated from reparations paid by Uganda to compensate Congolese victims of the 2000 Second Congo War, intended for transparent victim support.
The prosecutor accused Mutamba of misappropriating public funds, urging the minister to provide his account of the events under investigation.
Mutamba’s office dismissed the allegations on May 11, calling them a “campaign of disinformation” about a “fictitious embezzlement” related to the prison’s construction.
Corruption remains a pervasive challenge in DR Congo, ranked among the world’s most corrupt nations by Transparency International.
This unfolding scandal highlights ongoing struggles to uphold justice and accountability in one of Africa’s most resource-rich yet troubled states.