RD Congo – Monaco: serious accusations and official response

Monaco – DR Congo affair: Congolese ministry breaks its silence

RD Congo – Monaco: serious accusations and official response

The case is taking on a sensitive legal turn. The sponsorship contract linking AS Monaco to the Democratic Republic of Congo, revealed by L’Équipe, led to the filing of a complaint for “money laundering” and “corruption” with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office last September. After review, the case was transferred to the Monegasque authorities, placing the investigation under local jurisdiction. The Congolese Minister of Sports and Leisure, Didier Budimbu, is directly named in these proceedings.

Faced with the media storm surrounding the case, Kinshasa has decided to respond publicly. The ministry in question denounces the accusations as baseless and disputes the interpretation of the case.

In an official statement, it declares:

“The Ministry of Sports categorically rejects the accusations relayed by the French media outlet L’Équipe regarding the transmission of a complaint to the authorities of the Principality of Monaco. We firmly deny any allegation of embezzlement, money laundering, or corruption.” The statement further specifies that the partnership was “approved by the relevant government bodies” and implemented “in strict compliance with the current financial, contractual, and budgetary regulations.”