Finance: Congolese franc depreciates by 0.48% at the indicative rate

Kinshasa, January 21^st, 2026 (CPA). – The Congolese franc, the currency of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), depreciated by 0.48% at the indicative rate, with the US dollar trading at CDF 2,187 on January 21^st, 2026, compared to 2,139 two days after its appreciation following the injection of USD 50 million on January 8^th,  according to the Central Bank of Congo’s exchange rate table. « On January 21^st, 2026, the Congolese franc was trading at CDF 2,187 to the US dollar, compared with CDF 2,139 two days earlier, on January 19^th.  This latter rate was the result of the injection of USD 50 million into commercial bank circuits by the Central Bank of Congo on January 8^th, 2026, intended to stabilize the exchange rate on the market, » the table stated. According to the same source, the rate applied in all official exchange offices opened in downtown Kinshasa by the issuing institution is CDF 2,280 to the US dollar, a difference of CDF 93 on the exchange rate of one dollar. This situation is particularly noticeable at the ‘Le Château’ square, the ‘Mère Double’ exchange office, the ‘Sabena’ square and many others. Furthermore, a quick survey carried out by the Congolese Press Agency (CPA) in the capital revealed that on the parallel market, the exchange rate of the Congolese franc fluctuates between CDF 2,250 and CDF 2,350 depending on the area of activity. These include the Kintambo ‘commercial’ district, ‘Super Lemba’, Place ‘Victoire’ and N’Djili International Airport. These rates are applied according to the demand for currency on the market.   ‘Close monitoring of the situation on the foreign exchange market reveals, as of 10 January, a certain amount of tension on the parallel segment, attributable to speculation linked to negative expectations on the part of some economic operators,’ it was noted. On the outskirts of the city center, the rate is CDF 2,225 for the lowest bidders and CDF 2,280 or even CDF 2,300 for the highest bidders. According to manual money changers, this situation is attributable to the ever-increasing demand for foreign currency by economic operators who do not have access to commercial banks. According to an Equity Bank agent who requested anonymity, the money supply of Congolese francs in circulation on the market is not covered by foreign currency. This foreign currency coverage deficit has led to speculation on the market, as economic operators seek foreign currency for import purposes. He also noted that the injection of foreign currency into commercial banks from international reserves, which was due to continue on January 12^th, did not take place. This situation has made traders wary of obtaining cheap foreign currency.  The Central Bank of Congo’s process of injecting US dollars into the market had already borne fruit, but it has the disadvantage of reducing the National Bank’s foreign currency reserves, it is pointed out. However, it should be noted that the government, through the Central Bank of Congo, will have to find other mechanisms to support the stability of the foreign exchange market. To this end, it will be necessary to insist on the repatriation of foreign currency from the sale of minerals,  implement a policy of processing mining and agricultural products locally in order to add value, and promote the tourism industry to benefit from tourist foreign currency in order to consolidate the monetary policy gains initiated since the end of September 2025.  ACP/