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DRC Government Enforces Pricing in Congolese Franc to Reassert Monetary Sovereignty
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially reinforced the exclusive use of its national currency — the Congolese Franc (CDF) — across all commercial transactions, in a move to restore monetary sovereignty and reduce the country’s dependency on the U.S. dollar.
The decree, signed on July 14, 2025, by Daniel Mukoko Samba, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, was made public on October 7, 2025, in Kinshasa.
According to the document, all goods and services must now display and issue invoices exclusively in Congolese francs. The new rule is intended to promote transparency, strengthen confidence in the national currency, and stabilize the domestic market often disrupted by economic dollarization.
“The goal is not to ban foreign currencies,” stated the Ministry of National Economy, “but to reaffirm the Congolese franc as the reference currency for domestic trade and national sovereignty.”
🔹 Maintaining International Flexibility
The DRC government clarified that international contracts and major investments — especially in sectors like mining, energy, and infrastructure — will still be permitted to use foreign currencies under the supervision of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC).
This flexibility aims to preserve international trade flows while asserting the primacy of the Congolese franc in all local transactions.
The decree, published in the Official Journal of the DRC on August 14, 2025, is part of a broader economic reform strategy under the Mukoko Samba plan, focused on monetary stability, inflation control, and support for local production.
🔹 Background and Impact
Analysts from Reuters, Bloomberg Africa, and RFI Afrique note that Congo’s economy has long suffered from “dollarization,” with most urban transactions conducted in U.S. dollars.
By enforcing the use of the Franc Congolais (CDF), the government hopes to:
- Strengthen public trust in the national currency;
- Increase transparency in tax collection and trade;
- Reduce speculative currency fluctuations;
- Symbolize Congo’s economic independence.
Economists at Mecamediaafrica.com and Financial Afrik have welcomed the reform but caution that enforcement will require strict oversight from the Ministry of Economy, the BCC, and local authorities.
🔹 The Message from Kinshasa
“The Congolese Franc is not just a currency — it’s a matter of sovereignty,” emphasized Minister Mukoko Samba during a press briefing.
“Our goal is to ensure every market, every invoice, and every citizen reflects the pride of using our own national money.”
With this decree, the DRC takes a decisive step toward reclaiming control over its economic destiny, reinforcing both its currency and national identity.
✍️ Author: Mangwa
📖 Read full report: MecaMediaAfrica.com
🌍 Additional Sources:
Central Bank of Congo • Ministry of Economy DRC • Reuters • Bloomberg Africa • RFI Afrique • Radio Okapi • Actualite.cd • Africanews • Financial Afrik