RAF
The RAF Collective was born out of the desire to end impunity and to defend the public interest. We are a collective of legal experts, activists, and committed citizens.
Jean-Jacques Lumumba is a Congolese banker and whistleblower whose exemplary career is central to the fight against corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Born on 19/2/1986 in Kinshasa, he inherits a past rich in history: on his mother’s side, he is the grand-nephew of Patrice Lumumba, a symbol of Congo’s independence, and on his father’s side, he is connected to Simon Kimbangu, the founder of Kimbanguism. These familial roots, combined with a childhood marked by political tensions and repressions under the regimes of Mobutu and Laurent-Désiré Kabila, have instilled in him a profound awareness of the importance of justice and transparency. After studying at Boboto College and receiving an education in economics in Kinshasa, Jean-Jacques pursued an MBA in France, thereby consolidating his financial expertise.
In 2012, he joined the BGFIBank RDC group, where, by 2016, he was promoted to Director of Commitments. Very quickly, he uncovered suspicious transactions involving the misappropriation of public funds and opaque practices linking the bank to the entourage of President Joseph Kabila. Faced with the scale of these irregularities, he attempted to alert his superiors and block illegal operations, but encountered violent internal resistance—even receiving armed threats.
Confronted with the system’s intolerance and for his own safety, he made the courageous decision to leave his position, take sick leave in Europe, and ultimately expose these practices by handing compromising documents to the Belgian press. The publication of the “Lumumba Papers” brought to light massive fund misappropriations and extensive corruption networks, making him an international symbol in the fight against impunity.
Despite intimidation—including the theft of his equipment and the burning of his car during a trip in 2021—Jean-Jacques Lumumba continues his struggle with unwavering determination. In 2019, he received an international anti-corruption award, in recognition of his courage and commitment to establishing the rule of law and transparent governance in the DRC.
Today, living in exile in Europe, he embodies the hope for profound and lasting change, inspiring countless citizens and activists across the continent to work for a fairer and more honest society.
I, Jean-Jacques Lumumba, address myself to all those who refuse to submit to a system plagued by corruption. Today, I declare that the time for silence and complacency is over. Corruption, an insidious plague that feeds on our fears and abandonments, must be fought with unwavering determination and unwavering solidarity. We refuse to allow illegitimate wealth to continue to fund injustice and impunity. Every act of embezzlement is a betrayal of the trust we place in our institutions.
That is why, together, we are raising our voices to demand total transparency, fair justice and respect for human dignity.This manifesto is a vibrant call for collective action: let us mobilize our forces to denounce dark practices and to establish a new social contract, based on truth and equity. Every citizen has the power to overthrow the established order, and it is by joining forces that we can build a society where justice prevails over greed. I invite you to turn your outrage into a commitment, to make your daily life an act of resistance in the face of injustice.
Together, let's break the masks, break the chains of illicit profit, and let's put people back in control of their destiny. For a society where integrity is not an exception, but a living rule, I am resolutely committed — and I call on you to walk alongside me in this historic fight.
Together, we can end impunity and build an Africa where transparency and good governance are the norm.
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