The Inspector General of Finances, Christophe Bitasimwa Bahii, has sought support from the European Union for his vision to overhaul the financial control system in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During a visit to Brussels, Bitasimwa Bahii and his delegation met with officials from the European Union's Directorate-General for International Partnerships. They discussed the need for a more systemic and digitally-supported approach to financial control.
The proposed system aims to move beyond traditional verification methods and leverage digital tools to improve the surveillance of public financial flows. Bitasimwa Bahii's vision is to create an operational framework that can exploit data, identify vulnerabilities, and enhance the monitoring of public finances. European officials, including Luis Navarro and Maxime Hendrickx, expressed interest in the proposed reforms and highlighted the potential for cooperation.
The EU officials acknowledged the positive assessments of the Inspector General of Finances' work received from their colleagues in Kinshasa. These assessments formed a key part of the discussions, as the IGF seeks to build international cooperation to strengthen its technical capacities. Bitasimwa Bahii outlined the details of the digital transformation plan, which aims to streamline control operations, improve access to relevant information, and optimize the exploitation of data.
The IGF's approach is based on a more comprehensive concept of control, where available information is integrated to enable more efficient risk detection. This systemic approach is a key aspect of the IGF's strategic plan for 2026-2028. European officials welcomed this perspective and provided preliminary agreement to the IGF's request, exploring possibilities for technical and financial support.
The IGF delegation also met with Christian Ndongala Nkuku, the Congolese ambassador to Belgium and the EU. The ambassador praised the efforts to modernize the control system and emphasized its importance for the transformation of the Congolese administration. This convergence of views supports the IGF's efforts to expand its partnerships and mobilize external expertise.
The IGF's mission to Europe aims to promote its reforms, gather expertise, and secure support to accelerate their implementation. The systemic control and digital transformation projects are key components of the IGF's strategic plan. By engaging with European partners, the IGF seeks to turn these orientations into operational instruments for more integrated monitoring of public resources.
The implementation of the systemic control system is expected to significantly enhance the IGF's ability to track financial flows and detect risks. According to Bitasimwa Bahii, the new system will enable real-time monitoring and make it more difficult for individuals to misappropriate state funds. The EU's support for this vision marks a significant step towards improving financial governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key points
- The EU has pledged to support the Democratic Republic of Congo's vision for systemic control and digital transformation in public finances.
