### Agree between the IMF and the DRC: a glimmer of hope in a troubled context
The recent announcement of an agreement at the level of services between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) represents a significant step within the framework of the three -year economic and financial program supported by extended credit facility (FEC). In a context marked by political and economic instability, this agreement raises a multitude of questions about the challenges to be met and the trajectories to consider for the country.
#### Economic and safe context
The DRC, rich in natural resources, is in a complex situation. Economic growth, estimated at 6.5 % for 2024 and remaining above 5 % in 2025, testifies to a certain resilience, mainly carried by the extractive sector. However, this growth is counterbalanced by a deterioration in the security environment, particularly in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where armed conflicts persist. These disorders result in pressure on the national budget, exacerbating already high security expenditure and significantly reducing tax revenue, especially in the areas affected by the conflict.
This environment poses a crucial question: how to maintain economic growth while meeting the pressing safety and development needs in the affected regions?
### Program measures supported by the IMF
The recalibration of the program by the IMF is an effort to adapt economic plans to current realities. The new strategies centered on the mobilization of interior revenues and the rationalization of non -priority expenses are of capital importance. This choice leads to reflect on several axes.
First of all, what revenue mobilization strategies can really be implemented in a country where the informal economy represents a significant proportion of economic activities? It is essential to explore avenues that do not penalize citizens already weakened more by a difficult economic context.
Then, the rationalization of non -priority expenses could become a debate issue. What criteria define an expenditure as a priority in a country where the basic needs in infrastructure, health and education are omnipresent? The difficulty of this exercise lies in the government’s ability to discern between immediate needs and long-term investments, without neglecting the well-being of the population.
### Committee of the Congolese government
Government’s commitment to pursue structural reforms, particularly in the management of public finances and the fight against tax evasion, constitutes a positive aspect of this agreement. Indeed, transparency in the management of resources in the extractive sector is a fundamental pillar to regain the confidence of the population and investors. The question remains: What incentives will be put in place to encourage this transparency and guarantee an effective inclusion of local populations in the benefits generated by mining richness?
Another critical dimension concerns the capacity of the Congolese authorities to strengthen resilience in the face of various shocks, whether economic or climatic. IMF recognition of the need to adapt policies to deal with environmental issues is a key point in the development strategy. How can the DRC provenly integrate climatic considerations into its economic decisions?
#### Conclusion
The agreement between the IMF and the DRC is a glimmer of hope but it is also accompanied by a series of challenges to be met. The situation in the DRC calls for a balanced approach which integrates both the imperatives of economic development and the socio -political realities of the country.
Beyond figures and forecasts, it is above all the lives and hopes of the Congolese. Succeeding in making the bridge between economic growth and social well-being will require concerted efforts and a strong political will, while ensuring that the envisaged reforms are reflected in concrete results for the population. The responsibility, both national and international, will be to ensure that the future of the country is envisaged from the angle of human rights and inclusive development.