[ANALYSIS] – In the continuity of the management of the affairs of the State, the Coalition Government will inherit a low rate of mobilization of the revenues of the State compared to the annual budgetary assignments. It is about 50% (by integrating the estimate of the volume mobilized in August) that the Treasury should receive in four months. This is one of the first major fiscal challenges of the head of the Government Sylvestre Ilunkamba.

On a budget estimate of 9 604.890 billion Congolese francs (CDF), or 5.49 billion US dollars (USD), the outgoing Government was able to mobilize, as at 31 July 2019, only CDN 4 463.419 billion (2, USD 55 billion). Given these figures released by the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), this situation has a realization rate of 46%.

As a result, CDF 5,141.417 billion remains to be mobilized during the period from 1 August to 31 December 2019. This represents a remaining mobilization rate of 54%.

It is in this context that the new Government will have to launch its national action to meet the challenge of mobilizing public revenues through the financial authorities.

According to sources close to the Directorate of Budget Preparation and Monitoring (DPSB), the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) has already crossed the 50% mark of its budget assignments.

While the Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) would be around 45% where the Directorate General of Administrative, Public and Participatory Revenue (DGRAD) would be close to 60% even if its assignments represent more than half of those of the DGDA and more four times that of the DGI.

At the pace things are going, the most realistic public finance experts believe that despite the good will and action that this Ilunkamba Government can initiate, the rate of mobilization of public revenues will not be able to reach the 100%.

They first evoke the time factor. As of June 30, 2019, half of the assignments should already be reached and / or exceeded. It was not the case. Then the big annual tax deadlines have already passed.

Therefore, they conclude, even assuming that each of the financial authorities managed to do the 100% of its assignments of the remaining four months, there will be a gap, better a deficit to be filled.

It is on this realistic basis that Prime Minister Ilunkamba and his Finance Minister José Sele should work to break the 85% mark and go beyond. Which would be a performance to consolidate next year.

As a reminder, the completion of the 2018 Budget in its internal revenue section ended with a rate of 79.4%.

Emilie MBOYO