In Congo-Brazzaville, authorities have been called upon to submit their declarations of conflict of interest. Over the past few days, senior officials, ministers, and other executives have been appearing before the High Authority for the Fight against Corruption to fulfill this obligation. The aim is to combat dual employment.
For civil society, the operation is seen not as a government initiative but rather as being driven by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is set to conduct a review mission in Brazzaville in the coming days.
Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso and Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Petroleum, the country’s leading export product, were among the leaders fulfilling this duty.
Emmanuel Ollita Ondongo, President of the High Authority for the Fight against Corruption (Halc), explains precisely what needs to be corrected.
Meanwhile, Brice Mackosso, from the Justice and Peace Commission, commends the initiative but perceives it as pressure from the IMF.
“The IMF has a mission in Congo-Brazzaville as part of the Extended Credit Facility review. The mission is scheduled for the first half of May. I understand why the government is rushing to fulfill this structural benchmark [of declaring conflicts of interest],” he said.
The High Authority for the Fight against Corruption claims to have already received over 300 individuals. The operation concludes on Tuesday, April 30th.