A major controversy has erupted following revelations that more than 15 million U.S. dollars allocated to assist displaced persons and victims of sexual violence in Burundi were allegedly misused by organizations linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s First Lady, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi.
According to an investigative report titled “Scandale Tshisekedi: Quand les victimes deviennent des proies,” the funds were reportedly transferred to the Fondation LONA, a partner of the UNHCR, for humanitarian relief in Burundi.
However, the report alleges that the funds were instead diverted through questionable financial channels connected to the Fondation Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi and the Fonds National de Réparation des Victimes de Violences Sexuelles liées aux Conflits (FONAREV).
The investigation claims that these transfers occurred without proper documentation or financial justification, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
A financial report cited by the investigators shows that on December 6, 2022, more than $66,700 was recorded as spent on sanitary supplies under unclear circumstances, while other allocations intended for displaced women and survivors of sexual violence remain unaccounted for.
The publication further alleges that this financial mismanagement was part of a broader system of nepotism and favoritism involving close collaborators of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi and the First Lady.
The leadership structure of FONAREV reportedly includes several individuals personally linked to the presidential couple, suggesting direct political influence over the management of funds.
Investigators claim that the fund, originally established to provide reparations to victims of war and sexual violence in conflict zones, has been transformed into what they describe as a “predatory financial network.”
The report questions how hundreds of millions of dollars intended for humanitarian aid were handled by an institution dominated by figures loyal to the presidency.
The exposé, published by Édition Fonarev under the investigative collective anônymum, concludes that the alleged embezzlement and nepotism within FONAREV raise serious ethical and political questions about the Congolese government’s commitment to justice for victims.
As of now, neither the Congolese presidency nor the foundations named in the report have issued a public response to these allegations.