PPLAAF protection to whistleblowers in DRC

During the period under review, PPLAAF achieved results in all its areas of intervention. Whistleblowers continued to benefit from the protection and support of PPLAAF. These include whistleblowers from Afriland First Bank DRC, Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), BGFIBank DRC and Mangroves Marin Parc. Based on collaborative investigations, PPLAAF exposed high-level government misconduct, including the current Minister of Regional Planning, Guy Loando's dubious financial dealings and the mismanagement surrounding the national airline renewal project. These revelations highlight the pervasive role of political elites in undermining public initiatives and compromising governance. PPLAAF continued to follow up complaints relating to the Congo Hold-Up case in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. PPLAAF has also been lobbying the authorities for the adoption of specific legislation to protect whistleblowers in the DRC. To this end, a group of MPs supporting such legislation has been set up to push for its adoption within parliament. In November 2024, PPLAAF organised a conference in Kinshasa for more protection for Congolese whistleblowers. This activity was a milestone, enabling some whistleblowers to return to the country after several years in exile, such as Jean Jacques Lumumba. In view of the results, it seems that PPLAAF is likely to achieve its objectives by the end of the programme. The risk of negative political influence from those in power involved in the cases of corruption disclosed by whistleblowers is now fairly minimal. While a few years ago whistleblowers had to go into hiding to avoid reprisals from those in power, thanks to the project, whistleblowers were now able to take part in a public international conference in Kinshasa attended by and with the involvement of some of the public authorities. This is clear evidence of the advocacy work carried out by PPLAAF with the authorities. The risk linked to the difficulty of certifying whistleblowers' declarations also seems minimal, as the annual reports submitted by PPLAAF showed no excessive increase of requests for protection from whistleblowers. Rather, there has been a continuation of the cases submitted previously. In the same veine, the financial risk due to lack of auditing seems less so now after the submission of the unqualified financial and audit report for the first year of the project.

With the support of the Swedish Embassy in Kinshasa, PPLAAF's objectives for the DRC are as follows: Protection and support of whistleblowers: Contribute to the establishment of a safe and enabling environment for whistleblowers in the DRC, Ensure the protection of DRC whistleblowers and support threatened whistleblowers. Investigations: Establish an investigation and publication strategy to disclose sensitive information, Pursue ongoing investigations related to the DRC, Conducting in-depth investigations based on information revealed by Congolese whistleblowers. Legal actions and collaboration with the authorities: Continue to work on legal actions already initiated linked to the DRC, Collaborate with investigating authorities interested in PPLAAFs activities and work, Legally defend the organization when it is prosecuted, Initiate new legal actions and strategic litigation against perpetrators of wrongdoing and become a leader in this area. Awareness and Advocacy: Promote the concept of whistleblowing to authorities, local civil society organizations, lawyers, and media outlets throughout the country, Build a culture of whistleblowing, especially among key stakeholders, and create a solid understanding of the importance of whistleblowing, Continue to advocate on new disclosures and with the authorities for the adoption of protective legislation for whistleblowers in the DRC, Establish PPLAAF as the main data and protection centre for whistleblowers in the DRC.