Expensive passports spark call for probe in DR Congo

Most of money paid for documents goes abroad, reports say

Opposition

leaders in Democratic Republic of Congo have called on national authorities to investigate reports by media last week that most of the money paid by Congolese citizens for new passports goes overseas.

Documents of a 2015 deal between Congo’s government and a Belgian company called Semlex to produce biometric passports show that most of the $185 (Dh670) price for a new passport goes to Semlex and a small company called LRPS abroad.

President’s relative

According to a person with direct knowledge of the country’s passport deal, the company — which receives $60 for every passport issued — is owned by Makie Makolo Wangoi, believed to be a close relative of Congo President Joseph Kabila. Neither the Congolese presidency nor Wangoi or Semlex responded to requests for comment on last week’s story.

Felix Tshisekedi, speaking to reporters in the capital, Kinshasa, said the main opposition bloc that he leads would only speak to incoming Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala once he takes action over the passport affair.

“He should start by resolving the problem of the scandal taking place in the republic today — the scandal of the passports,” Tshisekedi said. “Tshibala should show his independence by resolving this problem and then we will speak.” Claudel Andre Lubaya, an opposition member of parliament and former provincial governor, also called on the attorney general to investigate the matter.

Vice-minister of foreign affairs Yves Kisombe confirmed that the Treasury receives $65 per passport while “a private enterprise” gets $120, but denied any impropriety.