NGO receives US $24,932 to promote peace, fight corruption

The US Embassy in Brazzaville has granted a local social justice NGO, the Ligue congolaise pour les systemes electoraux et la bonne gouvernance (Licose), US $24,932 to support programmes promoting the peaceful resolution of conflict and the fight against corruption in the Republic of Congo. Licose President Ivan Kibangou Ngoy said the programme, due to begin by the end of October, was intended to help build a culture of peace as well as to strengthen economic development by focusing on the respect of human rights and the transparent management of natural resources and the wealth these generate. "This project consists of two distinct axes: first, a workshop on peaceful resolution of conflicts will be organised in Dolisie, in the [southwestern] Department of Niari," he told IRIN in Brazzaville, the nation’s capital. "After all this country has been through, it is time to convince people to surrender their arms in favour of a culture of peace and democracy," he added. In connection with this, he said that an awareness campaign and training of civil servants and politicians would be conducted in order to achieve meaningful participation in the fight against corruption. "The second axis will focus on the country's two largest cities: Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire,” he said. “After this, we will have to consult with the US embassy to explore the possibility of extending the programme to other cities, because corruption has become a veritable plague upon our society. By educating people, we hope to increase the amount of local and national government revenue [that reaches the people] and to cultivate a culture of good governance." According to a recent government study, corruption in the Congo is rampant. Conducted by the Financial Control Department of the Office of the Presidency, the study found that 97 percent of 6,114 people questioned in the cities of Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Nkayi (in Bouenza Department, southern Congo) and Ouesso (in Sangha Department, northern Congo), were aware of the existence of corruption in the Congo. Some 86 percent believed the Customs Department to be the most corrupt, followed by the tax and police departments. Community service agencies, the judiciary, hospitals and schools were also deemed to be corrupt. According to the same study, 65 percent of customs officers recognised that their department was the most corrupt in the country. Meanwhile, with the support of the UN Development Programme, state revenue authorities have been implementing a project for promoting good governance and fighting fraud and corruption.