Breaking News: Democratic Republic of Congo Resumes Long-Awaited Retirement Plan for Civil Servants
In a significant move, the Democratic Republic of Congo has announced the resumption of a long-awaited project to retire over 300,000 civil servants, who are eligible for a new retirement plan in the public sector. This development comes after the program was paused in 2023 and 2024 due to budgetary constraints.
The public sector ministry had initially launched a large-scale retirement campaign in 2022, aiming to modernize the administration, improve the state’s finances, and honor commitments with international partners like the International Monetary Fund. As a result, 11,000 civil servants retired that year. However, the process was put on hold until now.
According to local media outlets, Public Sector Minister Jean-Pierre Lihau presented a ten-year plan to finance the process during a recent cabinet meeting. The state will allocate 20 billion Congolese francs (approximately $7 million) each month into a dedicated sub-account at the Central Bank. From 2026 onwards, banks will be able to pay compensations to pensioners in advance, before being reimbursed by the state, in an effort to avoid further debt.
To ensure the process is supervised effectively, the government will appoint a special committee comprising state actors from the public sector, budget and finance ministries, as well as the presidency, the prime minister’s office, and the civil service social security. This move is expected to bring relief to the thousands of civil servants who have been waiting for their retirement benefits.
The resumption of this project is a significant step towards addressing the country’s financial and administrative challenges. As the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to work towards modernizing its administration and improving its finances, this development is likely to have a positive impact on the lives of its citizens and the overall economy.
With the retirement plan back on track, the Congolese government is demonstrating its commitment to honoring its commitments to its employees and international partners. As the country moves forward, it is essential to monitor the progress of this project and its effects on the nation’s development.
