DRC: IMF Releases $348.5 Million but Confronts Kinshasa with Its Budgetary Challenges
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is renewing its financial support for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while calling on the authorities to strengthen budgetary discipline and accelerate economic reforms. Following the review of its support programs, the institution’s Executive Board approved a new disbursement of $348.5 million, bringing total financing granted to the country to more than one billion dollars since January 2025.
An Economy Driven by the Mining Sector
In its assessment, the IMF welcomed the resilience of the Congolese economy, supported by the strong performance of the mining sector. Despite a difficult regional context, the institution believes that the DRC has managed to preserve a certain level of macroeconomic stability.
However, the Fund warns that several factors continue to threaten this momentum and require increased vigilance from the authorities.
The East of the Country Remains a Source of Concern
The IMF notes that the persistence of the conflict in eastern DRC continues to weigh on public spending and worsen the humanitarian crisis. The institution also mentions the Ebola outbreak and internal political tensions as risks that could affect the country’s economic outlook.
Gaps in Public Finance Management
The international financial institution identified two deviations from the targets set. On the one hand, State spending exceeded forecasts, mainly because of security needs linked to the conflict in the east. On the other hand, the Central Bank of Congo changed the method used to set the exchange rate applied to operations with the Public Treasury, a development considered contrary to the commitments of the program.
Accelerating Reforms Against Corruption
Finally, the IMF calls on the Congolese authorities to continue reforms aimed at fighting corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing. The DRC remains on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list.
Although the organization acknowledged the progress made by Kinshasa in mid-June, a verification mission will still have to confirm the effective implementation of the reforms before any possible removal from this list.
Héritier Maila
Source: Radio France Internationale
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