© AFP – LUDOVIC MARIN
Christophe Lutundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, assured that Kinshasa pays “particular attention” to the question of embassies. Here in Paris on November 12, 2021.
Organized from February 26 to 28, the diplomatic conference, this annual meeting bringing together all Congolese ambassadors, will discuss the alarming financial situation of embassies on all continents. The cases are multiple and sometimes very complex.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
There are the remains of diplomats who stay several months in the countries where they were appointed before being repatriated. There are also those diplomats stranded in countries when their mandate has ended, when others have returned paying their own way.
The financial disputes are important and amount to millions of euros, recognizes Christophe Lutundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to him, the arrears of wages, rents, repatriation costs and funeral expenses since 2006 would amount to 159,391,959 dollars, as well as 12,325,675 euros, 268,755 pounds sterling and 1,167,207,910 FCA. ” Yes, it is serious and you have to pay special attention. You said eons ago, but the legacy is heavy, it’s the product of several years, not demagoguery. »
The Deputy Prime Minister also recognizes that it is impossible to regularize this situation in one year. An assessment has been made and a roadmap developed. the government has announced a budget of 10 million dollars, payments should begin soon.
For Christophe Lutundula the priorities have been recorded: “ 2020 and 2021 rent arrears, salary arrears for the fourth quarter of 2020, repatriation costs for recalled diplomats and reimbursements of funeral expenses “. Other funding is being explored to settle all financial disputes, particularly with bilateral partners and other donors.
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