The Dutch government has taken out the Democratic Republic of Congo from the roster of countries receiving its bilateral aid. The move is part of the European nation’s new development cooperation policy.
The Netherlands however assured on Friday (June 17) that the decision does not mean it is abandoning the African country. It noted that it had already channeled €20 million ($28.6 million) of the €25 million allocated for DRC through the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and multidonor funds.
“One of the reasons for ending the relationship with the DRC was that the Congolese government lacked the political will to spend aid money appropriately,” the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. “Also, relationships with a number of major donor countries were problematic.”
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