The Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Constant Mutamba, is under investigation for corruption involving nearly $20 million allocated for compensation to war victims. Mutamba gained notoriety for his strong statements against corrupt officials.
The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed a resolution allowing the Attorney General to initiate an investigation against Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, who is accused of misappropriating nearly $20 million from the compensation fund for war victims.
At 37 years old, Mutamba was appointed minister in May 2024 and has become well-known for his provocative remarks against corruption, even suggesting the death penalty for those who embezzle public funds. However, he now faces these allegations himself.
Mutamba is accused of awarding a $40 million contract to the local company, Zion Construction SARL, to build a prison near the city of Kisangani.
A report from a special committee of the Assembly indicates that the contract violated public procurement laws, as the company was established in March 2024 and lacks qualified personnel or the capacity to execute such a project.
It is alleged that Mutamba allocated nearly half of the project budget—equivalent to $20 million—without the Prime Minister's approval. Worse still, the funds were drawn from a compensation fund paid by Uganda for victims of the 2000 conflict between Ugandan and Rwandan forces on Congolese soil.
In a TikTok video that went viral on Monday, Mutamba publicly attacked the Attorney General, Firmin Mvonde, accusing him of being part of a "mafia" aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He also claimed that he is being targeted because of his stance against former president Joseph Kabila, who is facing allegations of treason for supposedly collaborating with the M23 rebels backed by Rwanda.
Despite admitting to "administrative errors" in the bidding process, Mutamba denied any personal gain, stating that it is all a "campaign of misinformation and propaganda regarding imaginary corruption."
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Vital Kamerhe, announced the decision to allow the investigation through national television broadcasts, saying: "The Assembly has unanimously approved."