The controversy continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the cost of the 2023 Francophonie Games in Kinshasa (July 28 to August 6). A citizen movement, Fight for Change (Lucha), held a press conference at the start of the week in the Congolese capital to denounce embezzlement and call for a “ general mobilization to obtain the whole truth ". One of its activists, Jacques Issongo, explained it to RFI : « At La Lucha, we believe that it is unacceptable that the mode of management of embezzlement can be established in our country. We communicated to raise awareness among the population and public opinion, so that people understand what kind of politicians we have in our country and that on the eve of the elections, we should draw all the consequences. Thorough investigations can indeed demonstrate that there has been misappropriation and that there has been theft. We ask, we demand that the justice system carry out investigations and bring all the people cited in this matter of the Francophonie before the courts. » As a reminder, the Congolese Minister of Finance, Nicolas Kazadi, assured at the end of October that the cost of the Francophonie Games would have reached almost seven times the initial budget. Initially set at $48 million, it ultimately amounted to $324 million.
