The Pan-African Anti-Corruption Network (Unis), a member of the Congo is Not for Sale (CNPV) coalition, has released a bold new report proposing significant cost-cutting measures within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) government.
Published on Monday, February 24, the report focuses on eliminating wasteful spending, particularly in political institutions, and redirecting funds toward urgent national priorities such as agriculture and food security.
Abolishing the Senate: A Costly Institution?
One of Unis’ key recommendations is the abolition of the Senate, which consists of 109 senators, an honorary president, and a supporting staff—all of whom drain millions from the national budget despite their limited role in governance.
“In the power balance between the two chambers, the National Assembly ultimately holds the final authority on all legislative matters,” Unis argues.
“The Senate’s contributions are often ignored, making it a redundant and costly institution.”
By eliminating the Senate, Unis estimates the DRC could save US$91.3 million in 2024 alone—money that could be redirected to critical sectors like agriculture, where one-quarter of the population is battling acute hunger, according to United Nations reports.
Ending Funding for Outdated Institutions
Unis is also calling for the dissolution of obsolete government bodies, such as the National Council for Monitoring the Saint Sylvester Agreement (CNSA)—a political institution created in 2016 for electoral oversight.
Despite being largely irrelevant today, the CNSA continues to receive substantial government funding:
🔹 2025 Budget Allocation: 4.5 billion Congolese francs (≈ US$2 million)
🔹 First Half of 2024 Funding: Over 1 billion FC (≈ US$413,624)
Unis strongly criticizes these expenditures, stating that the CNSA no longer serves a functional purpose, especially since the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) has taken over its responsibilities.
A previous attempt to dissolve the CNSA, led by former MP Delly Sesanga in 2019, was unsuccessful. However, Unis is renewing the call, arguing that the continued funding of outdated institutions represents a waste of public resources.
A Call for Smarter Budget Priorities
According to Unis, these unnecessary expenditures divert crucial funds from urgent national challenges, including food security, economic growth, and essential services.
By eliminating redundant political institutions, the DRC could reallocate millions toward improving the lives of its citizens—an action that Unis believes is long overdue.
As the debate continues, the question remains: Will the DRC government take decisive action to cut wasteful spending, or will these costly institutions continue to drain the nation’s resources?
