Former DRC Prime Minister Sentenced to 10 Years of Forced Labour for Corruption

In a landmark ruling that has reignited debate over governance and judicial independence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has been sentenced to 10 years of forced labour for the embezzlement of approximately $245 million in public funds.

The Congolese Constitutional Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday, finding Matata and Deogratias Mutombo, the former Governor of the Central Bank, guilty of misappropriating state funds allocated to the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park — a project once hailed as a beacon for agricultural transformation in Central Africa.

Mutombo was sentenced to five years of forced labour, while a South African businessman implicated in the case received the same term and will be deported upon completing his sentence.

A Project That Promised Hope, Now Tainted by Scandal

Launched under former President Joseph Kabila, the Bukanga-Lonzo project was envisioned to boost local food production and generate over 22,000 jobs, amid widespread hunger and underdevelopment. The initiative was backed by the African Development Bank and promoted as a flagship of economic empowerment.

However, by 2020, the DRC’s Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) had flagged the project as a financial black hole. Their investigation revealed that hundreds of millions had vanished with no tangible results, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.

The court found that the embezzled funds were diverted during Matata’s tenure as Prime Minister (2012–2016), after he had previously served as Finance Minister. Despite earlier praise from institutions like the International Monetary Fund for his role in stabilising the economy, Matata now faces the most serious legal consequences of any Congolese leader in recent memory.

Political Tensions and Allegations of Targeting

Matata, who now heads the Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD) Party, maintains his innocence, calling the charges “slanderous” and politically motivated. His legal team has argued that the case is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and weaken opposition figures, particularly those who refused to join the ruling Sacred Union coalition under President Félix Tshisekedi.

Matata had initially launched a presidential bid in the 2023 elections but later withdrew in support of opposition candidate Moïse Katumbi, citing alleged plans of “massive electoral fraud.”

Judicial Independence and Constitutional Debate

The trial also sparked institutional tensions. Critics, including National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe, accused the judiciary of breaching constitutional provisions by trying a sitting Member of Parliament without lifting his parliamentary immunity.

In response, the court’s president, Dieudonné Kamuleta Badibanga, defended the decision by referencing Article 151 of the Constitution, which upholds the independence of the judiciary. He argued that the case had advanced beyond the stage requiring prosecutorial clearance, citing that Matata’s election occurred after the legal process had already begun.

The court further barred both Matata and Mutombo from holding public office for five years after serving their sentences.

A Nation Still Battling Food Insecurity

The collapse of Bukanga-Lonzo has had severe implications for a country where over 28 million people face acute food insecurity, compounded by decades of armed conflict and displacement, especially in the eastern provinces. The scandal represents not only a failure of governance but a betrayal of millions of Congolese citizens who had pinned their hopes on sustainable development and food sovereignty.

While the ruling may appear to serve justice, many observers question whether it reflects a genuine fight against corruption or a selective purge driven by political expediency.

As the DRC continues to navigate its post-conflict reconstruction and democratic aspirations, the outcome of this case will resonate far beyond Kinshasa, raising important questions about leadership, accountability, and the future of anti-corruption efforts on the continent.