Congo’s Franc Gains Ground as Central Bank Injects $150 Million

President Tshisekedi leads economic crisis meeting, calls for lower food and fuel prices as currency strengthens.

The Congolese franc (CDF) has registered its first significant appreciation in history, following a $150 million injection by the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) into the local market. This monetary operation, carried out by newly appointed BCC Governor André Wameso, marks a critical milestone in efforts to stabilize the national currency and curb dollarization.

Currency Strengthening Strategy Underway

The foreign exchange operation follows the correction of the prudential coefficient, a monetary policy tool designed to boost confidence in the Congolese franc. Two additional corrections are planned, one in December 2025 and another in February 2026, as part of a long-term plan to reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar in Congo’s economy.

“This is the first time since its creation that the Congolese franc has appreciated in real terms,” said an official at the Central Bank.

President Tshisekedi Chairs High-Level Economic Meeting

On Wednesday, President Félix Tshisekedi convened a high-level economic meeting at the City of the African Union headquarters to assess the impact of the currency’s appreciation on consumer prices and purchasing power.

Attendees included:

• Prime Minister Judith Suminwa

• Deputy Prime Ministers in charge of the Budget and the National Economy

• Ministers of Finance and Industry

• Governor of the Central Bank André Wameso

The key topic: ensuring that the franc’s gains translate into lower market prices, particularly for food and fuel.

Government Calls for Price Adjustments

Deputy Prime Minister of the Economy, Daniel Mukoko Samba, highlighted the government’s aim to coordinate fiscal and monetary policy more effectively.

“Price decreases must be proportional to the CDF’s appreciation so that households feel the benefit in their daily lives,” Mukoko told reporters.

He confirmed that:

• A technical review is underway to evaluate recent market trends.

• Fuel prices are likely to drop in the coming days.

• Price inspections will intensify to ensure economic actors comply with new price expectations.

A follow-up consultation between the government and private sector is scheduled for Friday, aiming to align retail pricing with exchange rate improvements.

Dollarization Still a Challenge

Despite the progress, the Congolese economy remains highly dollarized, with a large portion of transactions still conducted in U.S. dollars. The government's current strategy aims to gradually restore confidence in the local currency and reduce dependency on the dollar in the medium to long term.

Governor Wameso’s leadership at the Central Bank, which includes his recent appointment to head the regional CSBAOCM banking supervision committee for 2026, reflects Kinshasa’s ambition to assert stronger monetary sovereignty.

Outlook

If implemented effectively, these reforms could improve consumer welfare, boost local industry competitiveness, and lay the groundwork for a more autonomous financial system in Central Africa.

The coming weeks will reveal whether the appreciation of the CDF will yield real savings at the market level or remain only a monetary milestone on paper.