Gradi Koko Lobanga is a Congolese banking professional specialising in audit, control and risk, and a whistleblower committed to fighting corruption and illicit financial flows. He is a UNIS ambassador.
During his career at Afriland First Bank CD in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he held responsibilities in internal audit, accounting and risk control. In that role, together with Navy Malela Mawani, he identified financial transactions they considered suspicious, and first alerted his management.
Faced with the risks and threats linked to their actions, the two men then passed thousands of documents on to specialised organisations and journalists. This information contributed to major international investigations into alleged money laundering schemes and the circumvention of international sanctions, involving in particular individuals and economic interests linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His story has become emblematic of the risks whistleblowers face in Africa. Today he draws on his experience to make a clear case: the integrity of the financial system and accountability depend on effective mechanisms to protect those who report wrongdoing that harms the public interest.