This year, the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) of DR Congo will resume its extensive audit missions of public institutions and state-owned enterprises. Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Chief of Staff to the President, announced the resumption on March 4 at the Palais de la Nation, in a meeting with leaders of majority state-owned companies.  Kamole stressed that businesses that deal with these companies will also be audited.

The IGF’s boss, Jules Alingete Key (photo), said the audits aim to enhance transparency and better manage financial resources. He added that the controls will focus on "areas of management risk." These include real estate acquisitions by public entities, payment of benefits to public agents, compliance with procurement regulations, tax obligations of service providers and suppliers, and expenditures related to medical care and foreign missions.

Companies will face scrutiny over their tax compliance and must justify both the quality and cost of services rendered. Past IGF investigations have led to contract terminations, tax reassessments, and reimbursement orders of funds deemed improperly allocated.

Last month, the IGF said it identified 11,038 companies operating in the DRC without paying taxes. According to the watchdog, reintegrating them into the tax system could boost government revenues by nearly 30% this year. 

The IGF's efforts have already yielded substantial results; in 2023 alone, it recovered $1.5 billion in irregular expenditures from public institutions, according to Alingete's February 2024 remarks on Top Congo FM.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho