The Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, has suspended the Director General of the Congolese Control Office (OCC), Étienne Tshimanga Mutombo, as a precautionary measure. According to the ministerial decree signed on Monday 16 February 2026, the minister accuses the Director General of the OCC of serious management errors, in particular the installation of a parallel computer system for controlling imports and exports, as well as facilitating the fraudulent use of false Verification Certificates (AV).
Étienne Tshimanga Mutombo is accused of setting up a parallel computer system, causing significant financial damage for the 2025 financial year. He is also accused of irresponsible human resources management, jeopardizing the functioning of the Office.
The precautionary suspension paves the way for administrative measures and possible extra-administrative proceedings. These could concern not only the suspended Director General, but also OCC agents or executives suspected of complicity in the alleged offences.
During this suspension, the Deputy Director General, Christelle Mwabilu, will serve as interim head of the OCC. The ministry also announced the establishment of a recovery commission to clean up the OCC’s management.
“An OCC recovery commission was formed on Tuesday, 17 February, by decree. It will be funded by the ministry’s budget and not by the OCC,” said the Minister of Trade on his X account.
Beyond individual responsibilities, the case highlights a flaw in the national system for securing foreign trade.
The OCC plays a key role in certifying goods, protecting consumers and mobilizing revenue from trade flows. Any failure in its system weakens not only public finances but also the confidence of economic partners.
For economic operators, this turning point could mark the beginning of a long-awaited clean-up. Provided that the announced reforms are quickly translated into transparent and reliable mechanisms capable of protecting state revenues and securing Congolese foreign trade in the long term.