DRC recalls ambassador to France accused of funds embezzlement

The Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, has recalled home its ambassador to France Isabelle Tshombe, after an audit of the mission revealed the diplomat was involved in funds embezzlement, Anadolu News Agency reports.

A letter dated Dec. 27 and signed by the First Deputy Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and the audit agency revealed the malpractices at the mission and the involvement of Tshombe.

Over 2.6 million euros have been stolen at the mission and the ministry believes Tshombe is responsible for that. The audit carried out by a mission made of officials from both the foreign and finance ministries at the embassy disclosed a treasury deficit of 1.7 million euros from January to November this year.

The funds are made of sale of passports to Congolese applicants, revenue from visa fees and other chancellery acts. Tshombe is also accused of lavish life style. She according to the audit was giving 25,000 euros monthly to the embassy staff in form of rent payment.

“It emerges that the head of this diplomatic mission has transformed the embassy’s fund into a private fund, managed without respect for the elementary principles of financial orthodoxy and in disregard of both the above-mentioned legal provisions and the authorizations of the hierarchy,” the letter said.

The diplomat took office in January this year. A close aide of Tshombe has reportedly branded “rubbish” the charges, arguing that Tshombe is victim of a smear campaign.