DRC: Party funding and finances

Updated September 2006

Law No 04/002 of 15 March 2004, Concerning the Organisation and Operation of Political Parties ("Law 04/002 2004") governs matters to do with political party funding and finance.

Public funding

Public funding of political parties is enabled but not mandated by Congolese law. Article 22 (Law 04/002 2004) includes "eventual subvention from the State" among the legitimate sources of a party's revenue. Article 25 outlaws the use of State resources or personnel for the benefit of a particular political party and states that state funding is possible. It but foresees the implementation of public funding through future legislation, but no such legislation has materialised.

Private funding and disclosure

Apart from public funding, political parties are permitted to raise funds from membership fees, donations and bequests, revenues generated through events and publications and fixed and movable property transactions (Law 04/002 2004, 22). All funding from foreign states is outlawed and parties who breach this provision are liable to dissolution (Law 04/002 2004, 24).

Article 20 (Law 04/002 2004) requires that political parties disclose property ownership to the Minister of Home Affairs, as well as any donations or bequests. The latter disclosures must specify their origin, nature, value and source and must be of non-criminal origin (Law 04/002 2004, 23). Each political party must, on pain of suspension by the Minister, supply (Law 04/002 2004, 21):

  • An annual declaration, within two weeks of the anniversary of its registration, to the Department of Home Affairs of the names, professions and residency of its central administrators.
  • Annual financial accounts, by the 31st of March every year, to the Minister of Home Affairs to demonstrate conformity to the provisions on revenue sources mentioned above.

References

LAW NO 04/002 OF 15 MARCH 2004, concerning the Organisation and Operation of Political Parties
Loi No 04/002 du 15 Mars 2004 portant organisation et fonctionnement des partis politiques, [www] http://www.cei-rdc.cd/loiparti.pdf [PDF document, opens new window].