IMF forecasts $771 million for DRC, including $240 million for Ebola
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Beto
The DRC and International Monetary Fund staff have agreed on two programme reviews, paving the way for a disbursement of about $771 million, including $240 million for the Ebola response. The case is due to be examined in mid-December, according to Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba and the IMF.
The Congolese government and the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a preliminary agreement on the fourth review of the Extended Credit Facility and the third review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Subject to the required approvals, the agreement should enable the disbursement of about $771 million, including $240 million for the Ebola response plan in 2026, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba Likunde Li-Botayi announced on 4 November.
The IMF Executive Board is due to examine the case in December 2026. The Fund’s mission, led by Calixte Ahokpossi, the mission chief for the DRC, took place from 22 October to 4 November. The IMF forecasts growth of more than 5% in 2026 and over the medium term, while the domestic budget deficit at the end of June remained below the ceiling set by the programme, according to the statement issued after the mission.
The Fund is calling on Kinshasa to strengthen coordination between fiscal and monetary policies and accelerate reforms to preserve macroeconomic stability. It links the review to the consequences of the armed conflict in the east, the resurgence of Ebola and the war in the Middle East. The expected amount is more than twice the $348.5 million released during the previous review, completed on 30 June.
The announced funding comes as the Ebola response in the DRC is facing calls for an investigation, made by Kapiamba on 24 October. It also comes as the DRC’s 2027 budget is being prepared; it was presented on 29 October with a forecast inflation rate of 6.4%.
