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Africa’s primary public health institution and Congolese health officials demanded greater transparency on Ebola response funding this week after data revealed that aid organisations have failed to account for over $700 million in donor money.
International donors disbursed approximately $962 million directly to international non-governmental organisations and implementing partners rather than the Congolese government.
The financial discrepancy threatens to hamper containment efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where widespread public distrust of aid agencies and past allegations of corruption already hinder medical interventions.
Read More : WHO: DR Congo Ebola Vaccine Trial to Start Soon
Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya clarified to Reuters that while it remains premature to allege embezzlement, the reporting gap creates a critical governance failure that prevents health authorities from properly tracking available resources.
Kaseya revealed that only a third of implementing partners attended a recent financial briefing hosted by Congo’s health ministry.
The attending groups reported receiving $228 million—spending $127 million and holding $100 million in reserve—leaving the vast majority of international funds unmonitored.
Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba supported Kaseya’s stance, reiterating that all active aid organisations must submit comprehensive documentation regarding their funding sources, project objectives, and implementation milestones.
Warning non-compliant international actors of severe consequences, Kaseya cautioned that organisations failing to provide full financial disclosures risk losing their operating permits in Congo and facing complete blacklisting across the African continent.
