No support for journalists behind the “Congo Hold-Up”

Investigative journalists and NGOs recently published the so-called “Congo Hold-Up” investigation, in which they accuse former Congolese President Joseph Kabila of large-scale fraud with public funds. The latter is now threatening to take legal action. N-VA MP Kathleen Depoorter regrets that Minister of Development Cooperation Kitir does not comment on this.

“Investigative journalists who expose this type of fraud with development funds should at least receive support from the competent minister,” says Kathleen Depoorter, who will submit a bill to increase the transparency and adjustment of development cooperation.

Plan against corruption

Kathleen Depoorter has sharp words for the minister: “What signal is the government sending to those who expose the truth and advocate the proper spending of taxpayers’ money? If the minister wants to increase support for international solidarity, she should at least draw up and implement a plan of action against corruption.”

Belgium is currently negotiating a new cooperation agreement with Congo. However, it does not contain any programmes that combat the immense corruption, or make our support conditional.

“No further steps,” says Kitir

That is reason enough for Kathleen Depoorter to question Minister Kitir about this: “It is clear that development cooperation financed by taxpayers’ money needs even more transparency, monitoring and evaluation.” Unfortunately, in the competent House Committee, Minister Kitir did not get any further than repeating that she “considers cooperation important but does not wish to take any further steps.”