In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Constitutional Court sentenced former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo to ten years of hard labour after finding him guilty of embezzling approximately $245 million in public funds.
Also convicted was Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the Central Bank, who received a five-year hard labour sentence for his role in the same corruption scandal. Both men were implicated in the misappropriation of funds intended for the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park—a once-celebrated agricultural project designed to combat the country’s persistent food insecurity.
Hailed initially as one of Africa’s most ambitious farming initiatives, the park aimed to create 22,000 jobs and reduce the DRC’s dependence on food imports. Instead, it became a symbol of failed governance, collapsing under the weight of corruption allegations.
Matata, who served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2016 and was previously praised by the IMF for spearheading economic reforms as Finance Minister, now heads the Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD) party. He had planned to challenge President Félix Tshisekedi in the 2023 election but ultimately withdrew his candidacy.
His legal team denounced the ruling as “unfair and politically motivated.” Matata has consistently denied the charges, insisting he is the victim of a political witch hunt.
The case, first brought to light by the DRC’s Inspectorate General of Finance in 2020, detailed widespread financial mismanagement surrounding the agro-industrial park. Following their convictions, both Matata and Mutombo have also been barred from holding public office for five years after serving their sentences.
While Mutombo has yet to respond publicly, the international community and human rights organizations are expected to closely monitor the fallout from the verdict. The ruling has renewed scrutiny over the DRC’s ongoing struggles with systemic corruption and legal accountability.
Though legal under Congolese law, the sentence of forced labour continues to draw criticism from human rights advocates, who argue it is an outdated and inhumane form of punishment.
Meanwhile, the DRC grapples with a deepening food crisis—with over 28 million people currently facing acute food insecurity—against a backdrop of persistent conflict and instability, much of it stemming from the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
