Ex-DR Congo PM Sentenced to 10 Years for $245M Corruption Case

• May 21, 2025

Former Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has been sentenced to ten years of hard labour. The Constitutional Court found him guilty of embezzling about $245 million from a major public agricultural project meant to fight food insecurity.

The case also involved Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the DRC's central bank, who received a five-year sentence of forced labour. Both men were also banned from holding public office for five years after completing their sentences.

The funds were allocated to the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park, an ambitious agricultural development meant to improve food supply and create jobs in the country. The project was one of the largest of its kind in Africa and aimed to employ 22,000 people and help feed millions in a country where more than 28 million people suffer from hunger.

Matata served as prime minister from 2012 to 2016 and was previously known for bringing economic stability to the DRC during his time as finance minister. He now leads the Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD) party and had positioned himself as an opponent of President Felix Tshisekedi. Matata even launched a campaign for the 2023 presidential election before eventually dropping out.

His lawyer has rejected the court ruling, calling it politically motivated and suggesting that the case was more about politics than justice. Matata’s conviction marks a sharp fall from grace for a politician once seen as a reformer.

The corruption allegations date back to 2020 when the Inspectorate General of Finance revealed financial mismanagement in the Bukanga-Lonzo project. The park was once viewed as a key solution to DRC’s long-standing food security challenges. Its collapse has not only deepened public frustration but also highlighted the scale of corruption in government.

Although the use of forced labour as a punishment raises concerns internationally, it remains legal under DRC’s penal system when issued by a court. In this case, the harsh sentences underline the seriousness of the charges and the damage caused to national development.

This conviction is one of the most high-profile corruption rulings in the DRC’s history. Whether it signals real progress in the fight against corruption remains uncertain, but it has undoubtedly shaken the country’s political and judicial landscape.