The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts economic growth of 5.5% for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2026.
According to Calixte Ahokpossi, this performance is expected to be driven by the strength of the construction, services, and agriculture sectors, which are helping offset the slowdown observed in extractive industries.
The IMF believes these sectors will continue to support the Congolese economy over the coming year. The institution also highlighted the relative stability of the exchange rate since the end of 2025, supported by higher revenues from mining exports and a reduction in the current account deficit.
DR Congo’s international reserves reached 8.8 billion dollars at the end of March, although they remain slightly below the recommended threshold of three months of imports. Annual inflation, meanwhile, has remained under control at or below 2.5% since October 2025, well below the Central Bank of Congo’s target of 7%.
This assessment comes as IMF staff and Congolese authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the third review of the program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), as well as the second review of the program backed by the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The IMF Executive Board is expected to review the case in June 2026.
This new phase of the economic program comes amid ongoing insecurity in the eastern part of the country and the impact of global economic tensions. The IMF noted in particular that the ceiling for the domestic fiscal deficit at the end of December 2025 was exceeded by 0.6 percentage points of GDP despite strong public revenue performance.
These short-term challenges are compounded by persistent structural weaknesses, including limited fiscal space, weak domestic revenue mobilization, and insufficient job creation. In a report published in July 2025, the World Bank had already warned that these factors could continue to hinder inclusive growth in DR Congo.
Despite these constraints, the country’s economic outlook remains favorable. The IMF is encouraging Congolese authorities to continue structural reforms aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability. The institution notably recommends better public revenue mobilization, tighter control of spending, and transparent management of resources generated from the country’s first Eurobond issuance. The government also plans to introduce a revised 2026 budget to support investment and mitigate the impact of external shocks.