Congo lifts former Prime Minister’s immunity over corruption allegations

Democratic Republic of Congo’s former Prime Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon’s parliamentary immunity was lifted on Monday, as the Senate leadership announced it had authorised a criminal investigation into allegations he misappropriated $140 million.

Congo’s public prosecutor last month accused Matata of ordering payments to people without valid claims to government compensation under a law meant to reimburse foreign businesspeople who had their properties seized in the 1970s.

The prosecutor, Jean-Paul Mukolo, said Matata personally benefited from the payments while serving as Finance Minister in 2011, but Mukolo did not provide evidence of this.

Matata has denied those allegations and said they are part of a smear campaign against him.

Olajumoke Adeleke/Reuters