By BlogHear News Desk
May 20, 2025
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sentenced former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo to 10 years of forced labour after finding him guilty of embezzling $245 million in public funds.
The case, which has spanned nearly four years, also saw Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the DRC’s central bank, sentenced to five years of forced labour. Both men were convicted over their roles in misappropriating funds from the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park project, a major agricultural development intended to combat the country’s chronic food shortages.
Matata, who led the DRC as prime minister from 2012 to 2016 and previously served as finance minister, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer described the ruling as “unfair and politically motivated,” according to Reuters.
The Bukanga-Lonzo project, once billed as one of Africa’s largest agricultural investments, was expected to create 22,000 jobs and improve food security for millions. However, an investigation launched by the country’s Inspectorate General of Finance in 2020 uncovered massive financial discrepancies, prompting legal proceedings.
The former prime minister, now leader of the Leadership and Governance for Development party (LGD), briefly challenged President Félix Tshisekedi in the 2023 presidential election before withdrawing. His conviction also includes a five-year ban from public office following the end of his sentence.
Mutombo has not publicly commented on the verdict. Both men have the right to appeal.
Forced labour remains legal in the DRC when issued by court order as a criminal penalty, per the U.S. State Department.
The DRC, a nation facing ongoing conflict and humanitarian challenges, continues to struggle with corruption and governance issues. The Bukanga-Lonzo scandal is seen by many as a test case for President Tshisekedi’s broader anti-corruption efforts.
The African Development Bank, once a backer of the project, had projected that it would help alleviate the plight of more than 28 million people suffering from acute food insecurity in the DRC.
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