How DRC’s Covid-19 funds disappeared

Researchers says missing funds, opaque pay practices and poor management hamper the coronavirus response in the DRC. The Congo Research Group, based at New York University, says several new committees were set up that cost more money but failed to solve the problems. Its report says only $6m of the $363m Covid funding awarded by the IMF last year has been publicly accounted for. The group says the lessons have not been learnt from previous failures in the management of health funds, and claims at least $240 000 went missing in the purchase of ambulances and vehicles for the Health Ministry's Covid response. The Congolese Government has not responded to BBC requests for comment. In June, former Health Minister Vital Kamerhe was sentenced to 20 years' hard labour and barred from holding public office for 10 years, after facing charges of embezzling almost $50m of public funds. His supporters say the trial was a political move designed to prevent him from standing for President.