Kinshasa, April 15th, 2022 (CPA).- The Deputy Minister of Justice, Amato Bayubasire, met on Thursday with a delegation from the European Union, led by its Senior Advisor, Gilles De Kerchove, within the framework of the project which helps countries around the world subject to the supervision of the International Finance Task Force (FATF), in the prevention of money laundering and the fight against the financing of terrorism. This delegation is in the DRC, at the request of the Congolese government through the Ministry of Finance to implement an action plan set up by the National Financial Intelligence Unit (CENAREF), said Gilles De Kerchove.
« With the Deputy Minister of Justice, we discussed ways to help the DRC and particularly the Ministry of Justice to improve the criminal chain, the regulation and supervision of NGOs and non-profit organizations and possibly improve international cooperation through mutual assistance. criminal justice and extradition, » said the Senior Advisor.
Against money laundering and terrorist financing
Citing the case of the DRC, he indicated that it is necessary to avoid money laundering and the financing of terrorism confirmed in the East of the country, through armed groups which produce illicit amounts and which can possibly be laundered by NGOs and Asbl, for the financing of terrorists including the ADF.
According to him, many measures depend on the Ministry of Justice, in particular the supervision and regulation of all existing NGOs and ASBLs in the DRC, also adding the criminal chain which goes from the declaration of suspicion by a bank, by an operation where it there is money laundering, and which must then go to the police, and finally to a magistrate, for prosecution and sentencing by a judge. Gilles De Kerchove also informed that the “Action Group against Money Laundering in Central Africa” (GABAC), a regional entity that assessed the DRC, wanted the country to make progress in, reason why the Congolese government expressed the wish that the European Union support the DRC, so that it becomes compliant.
« We are in the DRC and willing to help you, but according to the needs expressed by the various ministries. We had the opportunity to meet the teams of the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney General at the Court of Appeal of Gombe , with the idea of offering the service » he concluded.
