Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka has officially presented the 2026 Finance Bill to Parliament, unveiling a budget of 59,020.5 billion Congolese Francs (USD 20.3 billion). The proposal reflects a 16% increase compared to the previous year, underscoring the government’s ambition to strengthen economic growth and public service delivery.
Suminwa, joined by the Deputy Prime Minister for the Budget, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Communication and Media, fulfilled the constitutional requirement under Article 126, which mandates the submission of the national budget by September 15 each year.
“I came to fulfill the constitutional duty… We have reached an overall budget of 59,020.5 billion CDF, the equivalent of USD 20.3 billion, with an increase of 16% compared to the previous year,” said Suminwa during her address at the People’s Palace.
Strategic Priorities for 2026
The Prime Minister outlined the budget’s central priorities:
- Strengthening national security and defense
- Boosting agriculture and driving economic diversification
- Expanding infrastructure and energy development
- Improving education and civil service efficiency
She noted that the apparent drop in agricultural allocations is due to a reclassification of funds, with resources redirected to the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories (PDL-145T) and provincial-level investments overseen by the Ministry of Planning.
16.4% Growth from 2025 Budget
The 2026 proposal marks a 16.4% increase compared to the revised 2025 budget of 50,691.8 billion CDF (USD 17.7 billion).
The bill aims to:
- Consolidate macroeconomic stability
- Double domestic revenue by 2028
- Support post-conflict reconstruction
- Reduce social inequalities
- Enhance citizens’ well-being
Reform Commitments
The government also reaffirmed its pledge to pursue key structural reforms, including:
- Digitalization of financial authorities
- Rationalization of tax exemptions
- Improvements in the business climate
These measures, Suminwa stressed, will strengthen domestic revenue mobilization and ensure more transparent public financial management.
