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Matata Ponyo Mapon, who served as the Democratic Republic of Congo prime minister from 2012 to 2016 under former President Joseph Kabila, has been sentenced to 10 years of forced labour after being convicted of embezzling $245 million from a failed agricultural project. The ruling, issued by the Constitutional Court, marks one of the highest-profile corruption cases pursued under President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
The case centers on a large-scale maize farm project located 260 kilometers southeast of Kinshasa, which was initially promoted as the first of 22 major agricultural developments under Kabila’s government. However, the project collapsed in 2017, just three years after production began, with investigators later uncovering widespread financial mismanagement. A South African company hired to oversee operations withdrew from the country, citing non-payment by the Congolese government.
Alongside Ponyo, two other officials were sentenced in absentia—Deogratias Mutombo, former governor of Congo’s central bank, and Christo Grobler, a South African businessman. Mutombo received five years of forced labour, while Grobler was handed the same sentence. Congolese authorities believe Grobler is currently in South Africa, while Mutombo is reportedly residing in Belgium. Ponyo’s lawyer, Laurent Onyemba, has denounced the verdict, calling it politically motivated and unfair.
The investigation into the failed farm project was launched in 2021 as part of broader anti-corruption efforts spearheaded by President Tshisekedi. His administration has sought to hold officials from Kabila’s government accountable for financial mismanagement, with several high-ranking figures facing legal scrutiny. Kabila himself, who stepped down in 2018 after nearly two decades in power, has been living outside the country since late 2023, primarily in South Africa.
The sentencing of Ponyo and his associates underscores the ongoing battle against corruption in Congo, where misappropriation of public funds has long hindered economic development. The failed farm project was initially envisioned as a cornerstone of Congo’s agricultural modernization, but its collapse highlighted systemic governance failures.
Tshisekedi’s government has also accused Kabila of maintaining ties with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have seized territory in eastern Congo. Kabila’s party has denied these allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated attacks.
As Congo continues its efforts to combat corruption and stabilize its economy, the conviction of Ponyo signals a shift toward greater accountability. However, questions remain over whether the ruling will lead to broader reforms or if political rivalries will overshadow genuine anti-corruption measures.