Congolese officials implicated in overcharging infrastructure works in the Chinese Infrastructure for Minerals contract
The overcharging of infrastructure works noted in the 2008 agreement between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the group of Chinese companies formed by China Airways Corporation and Synohydro is believed to be the work of Congolese officials.
According to sources close to the matter, the leaders of the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT) and Moïse Ekanga, former coordinator and supervisor of the famous “mines for infrastructure” contract, are implicated in this affair.
In addition, the Chinese companies have agreed to revisit the Convention to correct the errors that have cost the Democratic Republic of Congo several billion dollars.
“The Chinese companies under pressure have agreed to revisit the Convention and reject responsibility for the overcharging of infrastructure works on the Congolese themselves,” sources close to the Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) report.
The Technical Control Office (BTC) reported that of the $822 million disbursed by SICOMINES for infrastructure works, only $300 million actually ended up in the public treasury.
According to this report, $522 million took a different path than the one for which they were disbursed. This suggests that the managers of this ambitious project to develop road and other infrastructure throughout the national territory have excelled in schemes resulting in a loss of over $500 million to the Congolese state.
The Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF) denounced the “imbalances” of the Chinese contract signed in 2008 between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the group of Chinese companies.
According to the IGF, the Congolese state has only benefited from $800 million out of revenues estimated at $10 billion from the operation of SICOMINES.
The same IGF document indicates that the Chinese made around $90.9 billion over 14 years, against their commitments of $6.2 billion.
According to the IGF report, “SICOMINES has mobilized a total amount of financing of $4,471,588,685.14 over 14 years and has only devoted $822,190,060.14 to finance infrastructure works, or 18.38% of the total financing mobilized.”
The Inspectorate General of Finance also notes a glaring weakness and meagerness of infrastructure investments.
IGF investigations also revealed a lack of visibility and impact of the work executed and their unjustifiable selectivity in violation of Annex C of the April 22, 2008 Convention.
To date, eligible executed works are valued at $534,902,461.66 and ineligible executed works are valued at $287,287,598.42.
