DRC Identifies More Than 63,500 Suspicious Police Records in Workforce Audit

Kinshasa, July 12, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo has identified more than 63,500 potentially irregular personnel records within the Congolese National Police (PNC), as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen payroll management and improve administrative governance. During the 94th meeting of the Council of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralization and Customary Affairs, Jacquemain Shabani, presented preliminary findings from an ongoing audit of police personnel, revealing significant anomalies in the national police database. According to the report, authorities reviewed 157,886 personnel records, identifying 63,817 priority cases requiring further investigation. These files include inactive employees, individuals suspected of being fictitious workers, and personnel with irregular administrative status who will undergo physical verification. The government estimates that failing to address these irregularities could result in financial losses ranging from US$8.32 million to US$19.42 million per month, equivalent to approximately US$99.8 million to US$233 million annually. Officials say the audit forms part of a broader effort to modernize the management of the Congolese National Police through physical, administrative, and biometric verification of personnel. To support the initiative, the government plans to mobilize additional resources to finance the nationwide verification exercise and the issuance of biometric identification cards for police officers. Authorities describe the project as a strategic investment aimed at improving workforce management, strengthening administrative oversight, and eliminating irregularities within the police payroll. The operational phase of the verification program was approved following a high-level evaluation meeting held in Kinshasa on July 9. The meeting brought together senior government officials, representatives of the Congolese National Police, and technical partners to validate the audit's initial findings and prepare for the nationwide deployment of the verification process. Through the initiative, the government aims to improve transparency in public administration, reduce payroll fraud, and ensure that public resources allocated to the police force are directed to legitimately employed personnel.