A censure motion has been filed against the governor of South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, by 18 provincial deputies. They denounce management deemed opaque and marked by serious administrative and financial shortcomings. This initiative comes in a context of strong criticism from civil society, which is demanding an independent audit.

A censure motion targeting the governor of South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, was officially filed on Tuesday at the provincial assembly. This filing comes at the conclusion of the plenary session devoted to adopting the calendar for the March session. The document is signed by 18 provincial deputies from various territories of the province.

The initiative is notably led by deputy Karume Bahige Jean, elected from Mwenga, who accuses the governor of poor administrative and financial management, serious shortcomings in governance, as well as a lack of transparency in the management of public funds.

According to the signatories, these deficiencies compromise the proper functioning of provincial institutions and jeopardize the security, social peace, and development of South Kivu.

Civil society intensifies pressure

This parliamentary action comes in a context already marked by denunciations from the New Congolese Civil Society (NSCC). On April 12, 2026, this civic organization held a press briefing during which it denounced "mismanagement" and "financial opacity" within the provincial government. The NSCC also accuses the governor of embezzlement of public funds and demands the immediate reallocation of petroleum taxes to the rehabilitation of road infrastructure, as well as the improvement of basic social services, deemed to be in a state of advanced deterioration.

Furthermore, the organization calls on national authorities to conduct an urgent and independent audit in order to shed full light on the management of provincial finances. It also pleads for exemplary sanctions against those responsible, if the facts are proven.

Faced with the absence of responses deemed satisfactory, the NSCC threatens citizen actions, notably the organization of peaceful demonstrations and "dead city" days.

The filing of this censure motion, which came several days after these public denunciations, illustrates the mounting political tensions within the province. The progress of this parliamentary procedure will be decisive for the future of the provincial executive and institutional stability in South Kivu.

Since November 2025, the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Security, Jacquemain Shabani, has called on provincial assemblies to adopt a resolution suspending motions of no confidence and petitions during this period of war.

This call is among the recommendations from the meeting held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Kinshasa, bringing together governors, vice-governors, and members of the bureaus of provincial assemblies from the 26 provinces of the DRC.

The Vice Prime Minister also urged governors to adopt rigorous and transparent management of resources, while maintaining permanent consultation with the bureaus of provincial assemblies on major issues of public interest, notably the programs, projects, and agreements to be financed by the central government, the provinces, or technical and financial partners.

Joséphine Mungubi