The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the continent’s leading public health agency, has identified a significant gap in the financial tracking of Ebola response efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to Africanews, Dr. Jean Kaseya, the agency’s director general, stated that $962 million from international donors has been disbursed since the epidemic began. However, only $200 million has been formally accounted for by the organizations operating on the ground, including United Nations agencies and international charities. This leaves approximately $700 million unaccounted for, a figure that has prompted calls for greater transparency from both African and Congolese officials.
The funding uncertainty emerges as the outbreak, declared in mid-May, continues to expand. Authorities reported on Sunday that the virus has reached an eighth province in the country’s north. The outbreak has recorded at least 9,400 cases and over 4,500 deaths, making it the deadliest in the country’s history. The disease, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has also spread into neighboring Kenya and Uganda. Africanews notes that the spread is fueled by mass population movements, rebel violence, and poor working conditions for frontline healthcare workers.
In response to the financial opacity, Congolese authorities have tightened their control over the humanitarian response. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told the Congolese Press Agency that the government has restricted operations to only 25 of the nearly 100 organizations previously authorized to work in the region. Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya stated that the funds were not paid into the general treasury, requiring partners to provide detailed plans on how they are spending the money. The Africa CDC noted that only one-third of the organizations attended a recent meeting organized by the health ministry to provide financial records.
Local residents in Bunia, a town at the center of the outbreak, have expressed growing frustration. A nurse named Prince Bahati told the Associated Press that many responders risk their lives but remain unpaid. Another resident, Anicet Kakule, suggested that the large sums of money have led some to believe Ebola has become a business for non-governmental organizations. He advocated for joint management of funds by the national government and partners like the World Health Organization to ensure accountability. The Africa CDC stated it would work closely with Congolese authorities to investigate the remaining funds.