The Democratic Republic of Congo has recalled its ambassador to Paris, Isabel Tshombe, suspected of “financial malfeasance” relating to several million euros, accusations dismissed on Saturday, December 31 by the diplomat who qualified these allegations as “forfeiture”.
Posting to Paris in France since January 2022, Isabel Tshombe is ordered to return to Kinshasa “before January 15, 2023”according to a note from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, sent to the ambassador on December 27 and published on social networks.
This recall is taking place due to “financial malfeasance for which your personal liability appears to be incurred for an amount of 2,653,142.76 euros in 11 months” management of the embassy, according to the conclusions of a monitoring mission carried out in November, writes Mr. Lutundula in this note. This correspondence was confirmed by the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Serene, rigorous and “straight in my boots”, I remain so”reacted Saturday on Twitter Isabel Tshombe, qualifying as “forfeiture” this “note wet with acid” of the head of Congolese diplomacy. “Is it fortuitous? Knowing how to say no to a forfeiture has a price and I pay it. See you in Kinshasa, there will be no loss of honor! »added M.me Tshombe.
Exorbitant illicit benefits
The ambassador is called upon to justify a “cash deficit” approximately 1.8 million euros for “selling passports”, “visa fees and other acts of chancelleries” carried out during the period from January to November 2022, according to the document. Mr. Lutundula again criticizes the diplomat “the non-payment to the benefit of the public treasury” amounting to 2.5 million euros for the last three years.
Mme Tshombe is also accused of having granted herself exorbitant illicit advantages as well as having given the same advantages to members of the diplomatic staff in terms of bonuses and other financial aid.
Mr. Lutundula accuses the ambassador of having “transformed the embassy cash into a private cash, managed without respecting the basic principles of financial orthodoxy (…) in defiance of the legal provisions”.
“Given the gravity of the facts”the head of Congolese diplomacy informed the ambassador of his “reminder to Kinshasa before January 15, 2023 not only for consultation, but also and above all to be heard on these embezzlements before a disciplinary committee”.