The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi, has ordered that half of the budget allocated to the state administration be redirected toward the war effort in the eastern part of the country, according to a report by the portal Actualite.
Specifically, it was decided to deprive almost all civil servants of government vehicles for one year, with the exception of military personnel and police officers. This measure alone is expected to save nearly $27.7 million for military needs. Between 2019 and 2023, the DRC's oversight body identified bloated staff numbers in public institutions, excessive bonuses for employees, and overly large allocations for maintaining the state apparatus.
Authorities hope that these budget-cutting measures will improve funding and strengthen the army. Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba and Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba have called on young people to join the DRC Armed Forces en masse. According to them, the president will soon announce the recruitment of 100,000 individuals into the army.