Kinshasa, October 18th, 2026 (CPA). – Initially, 97 organizations and implementing agencies were involved in the response to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). However, after USD 700 million was allegedly concealed, only 25 NGOs deemed transparent have been accredited to operate on the ground.
Health Minister Roger Kamba told the CPA that the Prime Minister had instructed the authorities to grant accreditation only to organizations that demonstrate transparency. These implementing agencies are required to complete a form indicating the source of their funding, the amounts received and their projected expenditure. In short, they must provide comprehensive information on their respective field operations.
On Wednesday, the Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, said the DRC government does not receive funding from donors directly, as the money is transferred straight to NGOs and implementing agencies. The government therefore initially sought to establish the full extent of donor-funded interventions, managing to trace only USD 220 million. For his part, Africa CDC Director-General Dr Kaseya disclosed that the amount missing from the Ebola response funds, which must be traced, was estimated at USD 700 million. This represents the difference between the USD 900 million reportedly transferred by donors to NGOs and the USD 200 million that has been traced. Dr Kaseya was categorical: “Organizations receiving funding must be held accountable.” For his part, Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya also stressed the obligation of beneficiary organizations to “account for the funds they receive.” The response to the 17th Ebola outbreak, already considered the deadliest, is being led by the Congolese authorities, who have actually disbursed USD 50 million. They have not received the donors’ funding, which is transferred to and managed by beneficiary organizations. Africa CDC, an organization widely recognized for its credibility, is determined to ensure that every dollar invested reaches its intended destination, particularly people affected by Ebola. It has offered to assist the government in tracing the missing funds. After five months of the outbreak, the toll remains heavy, with 9,144 confirmed cases and 4,410 deaths, while 2,814 patients have recovered, representing a case-fatality rate of 48.2%. The outbreak has been reported in seven provinces in eastern DRC. The number of new cases has now declined, suggesting that the outbreak may have reached its peak. CPA/