Republic of Congo: Post-Financing Assessment-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Republic of Congo

This paper presents Republic of Congo’s Post-Financing Assessment report. Congo’s economic recovery has softened in 2025 as weak public investment and energy supply disruptions weighed on the non-hydrocarbon sector. Medium-term growth prospects in Congo depend on improving the business environment and advancing economic diversification beyond hydrocarbons. Fiscal discipline weakened in 2025 due to spending overruns and declining oil prices, exacerbating fiscal pressures amid heightened sovereign-bank nexus vulnerabilities and liquidity strains in regional treasury markets. The 2026 budget signals a renewed commitment to fiscal consolidation, with a shift toward pro-growth and pro-poor expenditures. Sustaining this effort will require a balanced approach supported by structural reforms, including stronger non-hydrocarbon revenue mobilization and prioritization of productive and social spending. Congo’s capacity to repay the Fund is assessed as adequate, supported by fiscal surpluses, a commitment to corrective measures, and a solid repayment track record. However, risks remain significant over the medium term, particularly if funding gaps widen due to reduced regional bank demand for government securities or a sharp decline in oil prices, which could undermine fiscal and external stability.