RD Congo-AS Monaco partnership under Monaco probe as minister rebuts allegations | OneFootball

Congolese sports minister Didier Budimbu has defended the RD Congo-AS Monaco sponsorship, which is now the subject of a preliminary investigation in the Principality.

L'Équipe reports Monaco’s prosecutor opened the inquiry after France’s National Financial Prosecutor referred the case. A September 2025 complaint accuses Budimbu and the club of corruption, money laundering and embezzlement.

Signed in June 2025, the deal is worth 4.8 million euros over three years, 1.6 million per season. Budimbu says the first payment went from the treasury directly to Monaco. He also faces a no-confidence motion.

He says the funds’ origin is clear and that talk of money laundering makes no sense. He adds the agreement was approved by the Council of Ministers, and contrasts it with Rwanda paying 15 million euros a season to PSG.

French businessman Aurélien Logeais of Pamars acted as intermediary for Kinshasa, which he says carried no fee. A source says Monaco contracted with Pamars and paid a commission of around 10 percent. Logeais declined to comment.

Pamars changed its corporate purpose on 9 June 2025 to include sports marketing, two weeks before the partnership was announced.

Lawyer Hervé Diakiese says the contract lacked a tender and transparency, and alleges illicit practices and kickbacks. Budimbu denies any financial arrangement with Logeais, and Monaco says it has noted the inquiry and will assist authorities.

Source: L'Équipe