In an ordinance-law signed on 14 March 2026, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo established a new judicial structure within the system of ordinary courts called the Economic and Financial Criminal Court, abbreviated as “TPEF.” This court is responsible for prosecuting economic and financial crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its specific mandate is to strengthen the fight against economic crime, including corruption, embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Criminal Court (TPEF) will have functional autonomy and its own budget, included in the national budget. Its headquarters will be located in the capital, Kinshasa, with the possibility of establishing branch offices across the national territory.
According to the ordinance, this judicial body will consist of two chambers: a court of first instance and a court of appeal. It will include at least forty judges, of whom twenty will be career magistrates and twenty will be assessors.
An Economic and Financial Prosecutor General’s Office will also be attached to this court to investigate and prosecute offenses within its jurisdiction.
However, this new judicial structure could represent a latent threat to civil society organizations (CSOs), as it could later be used against certain CSOs that challenge public governance by the authorities in power, under the pretext of money laundering or capital laundering.
All ongoing cases related to economic crimes currently pending before ordinary courts will be transferred to this new structure once it is established. The Economic and Financial Criminal Court is to be effectively set up within three months of the ordinance-law entering into force. This initiative is part of the authorities’ efforts to strengthen transparency and the fight against corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Création d’un Tribunal pénal économique et financier en RDC
Dans une ordonnance-loi signée le 14 mars 2026, le Président de la République Démocratique du Congo a crée une nouvelle structure judiciaire au sein de l’ordre des juridictions judiciaires dénommée : Tribunal pénal économique et financier, en sigle « TPEF » chargé de réprimer les infractions économiques et financières en République démocratique du Congo. Cette nouvelle juridiction a pour mission spéciale, de renforcer la lutte contre la criminalité économique, notamment la corruption, le détournement des deniers publics, l’enrichissement illicite ou encore le blanchissement des capitaux. Cependant, cette nouvelle structure judiciaire, pourrait être une menace latente contre les OSC en ce qu’il pourrait plus tard être utilisé contre certaines OSC qui se permettraient de remettre en cause la gouvernance des institutions publiques, par le pouvoir en place, sous prétexte de blanchiment d’argent ou des capitaux.
Le Tribunal pénal économique et financier (TPEF) disposera d’une autonomie fonctionnelle et d’un budget propre inscrit au budget national. Son siège est établi dans la capitale, Kinshasa, avec la possibilité de créer des sièges secondaires sur l’ensemble du territoire national.
Selon l’ordonnance, cet organe judiciaire sera composé de deux chambres : une chambre de première instance et une chambre d’appel. Il comptera au moins quarante juges, dont vingt magistrats de carrière et vingt juges assesseurs.
Un parquet général économique et financier sera également rattaché à cette juridiction pour instruire et poursuivre les infractions relevant de sa compétence.
Toutes les affaires liées aux infractions économiques actuellement pendantes devant les juridictions ordinaires seront transférées à cette nouvelle structure dès son installation.
Le Tribunal pénal économique et financier devra être effectivement installé dans un délai de trois mois après l’entrée en vigueur de l’ordonnance-loi.
Cette initiative s’inscrit dans la volonté des autorités de renforcer la transparence et la lutte contre la corruption en République démocratique du Congo.
In an ordinance-law signed on March 14, 2026, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo established a new judicial structure within the system of ordinary courts called the Economic and Financial Criminal Court, abbreviated as “TPEF.” This court is responsible for prosecuting economic and financial crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its specific mandate is to strengthen the fight against economic crime, including corruption, embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment, and money laundering.
However, this new judicial structure could represent a latent threat to civil society organizations (CSOs), as it could later be used against certain CSOs that challenge public governance by the authorities in power, under the pretext of money laundering or capital laundering.
The Economic and Financial Criminal Court (TPEF) will have functional autonomy and its own budget, included in the national budget. Its headquarters will be located in the capital, Kinshasa, with the possibility of establishing branch offices across the national territory.
According to the ordinance, this judicial body will consist of two chambers: a court of first instance and a court of appeal. It will include at least forty judges, of whom twenty will be career magistrates and twenty will be assessors.
An Economic and Financial Prosecutor General’s Office will also be attached to this court to investigate and prosecute offenses within its jurisdiction.
All ongoing cases related to economic crimes currently pending before ordinary courts will be transferred to this new structure once it is established.
The Economic and Financial Criminal Court is to be effectively set up within three months of the ordinance-law entering into force.
This initiative is part of the authorities’ efforts to strengthen transparency and the fight against corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.