The Governor of the Central Bank of Democratic Republic of the Congo, André Wameso, has announced that starting April 9, 2027, no one will be allowed to pay for services using US dollars or other foreign currencies inside the country.
For many years, the United States Dollar has been widely used across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often more than the local currency, the Congolese franc. This situation developed mainly because of the continuous depreciation of the local currency, which pushed people to prefer using dollars with higher value instead of carrying large amounts of local notes.
In 2010, one US dollar was exchanged for about 920 Congolese francs, but by 2026 it had risen to around 2,300 francs. The Central Bank estimates that nearly 90% of everyday transactions in the country are conducted in dollars, except for the payment of government employees’ salaries.
Governor Wameso said this practice will end next year. Individuals, businesses and financial institutions will no longer be allowed to accept physical payments in foreign currencies.
Commercial banks will also be prohibited from importing foreign banknotes. However, they will still be allowed to receive foreign currency through digital and electronic banking systems.
“Starting April 9, 2027, no one will be allowed to make payments for services using foreign currencies,” Wameso stated.
In August 2025, Wameso told Bloomberg that the heavy use of foreign currencies is one of the factors slowing the Congolese economy, largely because the country imports more goods than it exports.
He also emphasized that the Central Bank needs greater independence to effectively implement and manage monetary policy aimed at protecting the national economy.