In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the resumption of production and issuance of biometric passports, originally scheduled for Monday, November 23, has been postponed to a later date. By June 2020, the controversial agreement between the DRC and the consortium of companies in the Semlex group, which specializes in the production of passports, had ended. Since this period, it is impossible to get a new passport and the Congolese will have to wait a little longer.
as reported from Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The transition period following the end of the agreement with the consortium of companies in the Semlex group, the current passport provider, has not been easy to manage. An ad hoc committee has been set up to examine the technical, legal and economic aspects. with a view to restarting the production of these passports, which are still manufactured by the same supplier.
Still far …
The Commission presented its conclusions. And among the important decisions is the price reduction: the pass goes from 185 to 99 dollars. But there is still a long way to go before production is restarted. Foreign Minister Marie Ntumba Nzeza talks about a rapid harmonization of the view between her ministry and finance for this effective resumption.
His advisers mention in particular discussions about the banks that should be chosen to collect the production costs for this passport. When everything is ready, the official deadline for getting his passport will be one week. This transition period will last one year.
How about openness?
This will be particularly noticeable in the procurement procedures that make it possible to select a new supplier. In this respect, civil society already demands greater transparency.
► To read also: DRC: the price of the passport down
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