DRC: Parliamentary Concerns Grow Over Delay in Reviewing 2026 Budget

Kinshasa, DRC - With less than 45 days remaining in the ordinary parliamentary session, which is primarily dedicated to budget matters, delays in reviewing the 2026 draft finance law are raising alarm among lawmakers and civil society.

The election of a new Speaker of the National Assembly, scheduled for November 13, has contributed to concerns over institutional paralysis. Christian Mwando of the opposition party Ensemble pour la République blames the delay on “political distractions” linked to internal petitions, while Gary Sakata of the ruling Sacred Union highlights that the law allows 60 days for both chambers to adopt the budget.

Parliamentary sources indicate that the review of the draft law is expected to begin only after the installation of the new leadership, seen as a prerequisite for the effective resumption of parliamentary work.