The scandal of victims’ funds in DRC

Special focus 10 publications
Two victim compensation funds were established in 2022 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Special Fund for the Distribution and Compensation of Victims of Uganda’s Illegal Activities in the DRC, known as Frivao, is funded by reparations payments from Uganda, as ordered by the International Court of Justice. These payments are expected to total $325 million. The second is the National Fund for Reparations for Victims (Fonarev), which is tasked with identifying, supporting, and compensating victims of conflict-related sexual violence and other serious crimes. It is funded, in particular, by a levy on mining royalties. Both of these organizations have been accused of mismanagement – and, in the case of Frivao, of massive embezzlement, which led to the arrest and trial of a former justice minister and a fund coordinator.
Illustration: © Edizon Musavuli for Justice Info
A scandal is raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The two ‘reparations’ funds set up for victims of mass crimes, Frivao and Fonarev, are accused of corruption and embezzlement. Illustration: a large pipe dispensing banknotes into hands held aloft is torn open by a businessman who collects the notes spilling out of the hole.
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On a street in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a large advertising hoarding displays a message about ‘Genocost’, announcing a ‘national commemoration on 2 August 2026’.
Kasai: FONAREV under fire
25 August 2026 by Caleb Kazadi
The Kamuina Nsapu armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo took place ten years ago. But in Kasai FONAREV, the public body in charge of reparations for victims, is coming increasingly under fire.
FRIVAO: Is collective compensation being used for embezzlement?
30 July 2026 by Claude Sengenya
The FRIVAO fund for victims is also meant to provide collective reparations. But in Kisangani, there are questions about the use of these funds, which are sometimes misappropriated or have no real impact on the ground.
Jean Kalegamire Bienda, wearing a beige jacket and pink shirt, sitting at his desk and going through a stack of victims' case files; behind him, piles of documents and a calendar open to June 2026. Chaos and corruption: investigating the FRIVAO fund in Kisangani
29 July 2026 by Claude Sengenya
In Kisangani, witnesses describe the chaos and controversy surrounding FRIVAO, with disputed numbers of victims and amounts of compensation amid political interference. Millions of dollars are alleged to have been embezzled from this victims’ fund.
Chançard Bolukola, coordinator of the Fund for Reparation and Compensation for Victims of Uganda’s Illegal Activities in the DRC (Frivao), is accused of embezzling part of the funds paid by Uganda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025. Image: a still from a video showing Bolukola wearing clothing bearing the Frivao logo. FRIVAO at heart of a new multi-million-dollar scandal
1 June 2026 by Caleb Kazadi
After ex-justice minister Constant Mutamba, former FRIVAO coordinator Chançard Bolukola is now being called to account for his handling of funds meant for victims of the “Six-Day War”. Bolukola has been on trial since April 21 at the Kinshasa Gombe Court of Appeals.
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an investigation by the Center for Research on Public Finance and Local Development (CREFDL) has uncovered embezzlement from a fund set up to help victims in Kisangani: Frivao. Image: a graphic design shows the word ‘Frivao’ dissolving in liquid.
3 October 2025 by Caleb Kazadi
DRC: Should the Victims' Fund be dissolved? An investigation by the Center for Research on Public Finance and Local Development in Kinshasa has exposed the embezzlement of millions of dollars from Frivao.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the verdict has been handed down in the trial of Constant Mutamba (former Minister of Justice). The court found him guilty of embezzlement of public funds and sentenced him to three years of hard labour. Photo: Mutamba sits among his lawyers wearing a gym suit and a face mask.
4 September 2025 by Caleb Kazadi
DRC: the justice minister caught by the law The trial of DRC’s former justice minister Constant Mutamba ended on Tuesday, 2 September, with his sentencing to three years of hard labor for embezzling public funds – 19.9 million US dollars – paid by Uganda to compensate war victims.
Scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Minister of Justice Constant Mutamba is suspected of embezzling funds intended for victims of the ‘Six-Day War’ in Kisangani (DRC).
20 June 2025 by Caleb Kazadi
DRC victims’ fund hit by scandal The Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Constant Mutamba, has been accused of embezzling $19.9 million from the Reparations Fund for Victims, Frivao. On June 17 he was forced to resign.
In villages in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), survivors of attacks by Ugandan soldiers are waiting to receive reparations. Photo: Three survivors of massacres (seen from behind) in front of a mass grave (not shown) where their relatives are buried.
10 December 2024 by Claude Sengenya
DRC: with the forgotten people of North Kivu In North Kivu, the inhabitants of the villages of Maboya-Loya and Kikere have not yet seen a penny of the millions of dollars in reparations paid to Congo by Uganda for the violence perpetrated by Ugandan soldiers a quarter of a c [...]
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the aid fund for victims of the ‘6-day war’ (often called ‘Genocost’ in the DRC) is struggling to fulfil its mission. Frivao is suspected of embezzlement and needs to be overhauled. Photo: Kisangani cemetery.
14 October 2024 by Caleb Kazadi
DRC: Victims’ fund overhauled  amid embezzlement suspicions Despite a reserve of 195 million dollars paid by Uganda, the Special Reparation and Compensation Fund for Victims of Uganda's Armed Activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Frivao) is struggling to fulfil its mission: to id [...]
Genocost - A victim of the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still waiting to be
31 August 2023 by Caleb Kazadi
When will Congolese “Genocost” victims receive reparations? On August 2, the Democratic Republic of Congo commemorated its millions of victims of "Genocost", as the Congolese call it -- a crime committed for the lure of economic gain (genocide + cost). Two reparations funds have been set u [...]