with our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa

Investigators from this institution answering to the Presidency of the Republic have detected the disappearance of several million dollars. But yesterday, before the press, the IGF did not name those responsible.

With regard to the Bukangalonzo agro-industrial park whose work had been launched with great fanfare in 2014, the IGF's findings are damning.

"Amount disbursed: 285 million dollars, amount lost by the State: 205 million dollars, enumerates Jules Alingete, General Inspector of Finances. The general inspectorate notes that the failure of this project was already planned from its conception."

A debacle that inspectors also attribute to overcharging in the purchase of equipment and agricultural inputs. Payments were even traced. "80% of overcharged payments were deposited in an account located in South Africa where accomplices met regularly to divide the spoils."

Six suspects have been identified, including one foreign national. Three of the five Congolese are covered by parliamentary immunity, while another is on the run, according to the IGF chief. "We observe increasingly in our oversight missions that predators, when they have committed their crime, buy themselves—with the diverted funds—the votes to be elected to Parliament and thus put themselves beyond the reach of prosecution!"

With regard to teacher salaries, the IGF was unable to trace significant sums estimated at more than 32 million dollars: funds diverted either through the creation of fictitious schools and teaching institutions or through false invoices to justify certain expenses.

The Congolese NGO ACAJ has asked the office of the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation to open judicial investigations "urgently" and to take "precautionary measures" against the alleged perpetrators.