Probe And Counter Probe Rocking Tshisekedi Government

The Head of Democratic Republic of Congo’s public finances watchdog, Victor Batubenga has been detained for questioning for hours on Saturday. He is saying that his detention was because for investigations conducted by his office into spending by some senior government officials.

President Félix Tshisekedi
Source : SABC

The capital Kinshasa’s police chief, Sylvain Kasongo, confirmed that Inspector General of Finances Victor Batubenga and one of his colleagues had been detained for several hours before being released.

But Kasongo said the arrests were for “matters of common law”, but declined to elaborate. Batubenga’s office has been investigating a 100 million US dollar line of credit opened in May by the central bank. The account was opened at the instruction of the Interim Economy Minister Henri Yav to reimburse fuel distributors, according to a report his office issued in July.

The National Intelligence Agency was also ordered to audit the spending by the interim government in place since President Felix Tshisekedi’s inauguration in January.

Since taking office, Tshisekedi has promised to clean up corruption which he said proliferated during his predecessor Joseph Kabila’s 18-year tenure.

Civil society groups, however, have accused his administration of profligate spending, charges he has denied.