DR Congo to Ban Foreign Currency Cash Payments in Bid to Boost Local Franc
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced plans to ban all foreign-currency cash payments starting April 9, 2027, in a major policy shift aimed at restoring confidence in its national currency.
Officials said the move is designed to strengthen the use of the Congolese franc and reassert control over monetary flows in an economy long dominated by the United States dollar.
The country has relied heavily on the dollar for decades, largely due to past episodes of hyperinflation and persistent low trust in the local currency. As a result, many transactions—from rent to large-scale trade—are commonly conducted in foreign currency.
Authorities say the planned ban will require all domestic cash transactions to be carried out in francs, with foreign currencies restricted mainly to banking channels and international trade.
However, analysts caution that enforcement could prove challenging in a largely cash-based economy of over 100 million people, where informal markets dominate and dollarisation is deeply entrenched.
Experts note that the success of the policy will depend on consistent implementation, macroeconomic stability, and the government’s ability to rebuild public confidence in the local currency.
