More than $700 million in international donor funding earmarked for the Ebola outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot be traced. A joint verification audit exposed a massive reporting deficit among aid agencies.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya told reporters that donors disbursed approximately $962 million directly to non-governmental executing partners rather than government accounts.
Only $228 million was accounted for after less than 30% of implementing partners attended a financial verification meeting called by Congo’s Ministry of Health. Of that sum, $127 million was spent.
Dr. Kaseya clarified that while it is too early to prove embezzlement, the untracked $700 million represents a severe transparency breakdown that threatens ongoing epidemic response operations.
Congolese Health Minister Roger Kamba warned that non-compliant humanitarian groups face immediate revocation of operating accreditations. Immigration authorities have been instructed to take enforcement action against non-reporting personnel.
The financial dispute comes as the country battles an escalating public health crisis caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain. The epidemic has infected over 9,200 people and claimed 4,400 lives.
Ituri province remains the primary epicenter, accounting for over 6,800 confirmed cases. Health officials warn that tracking failures undermine community trust and jeopardize future emergency funding allocations.
