The Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) has taken a major step toward strengthening the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) financial stability by launching a comprehensive strategy to boost its gold reserves a move aimed at shoring up the national currency, diversifying its monetary assets and formalising a large segment of the country’s gold production. The initiative involves a new strategic partnership with DRC Gold Trading SA, a fully state owned company tasked with channeling gold mined domestically into official channels for reserve accumulation.
The contract was signed on 20 February 2026 by BCC Governor André Wameso in Kinshasa, in the presence of government officials including the Minister of the Portfolio, Julie Shiku, underscoring the high institutional and political priority attached to the project. The agreement establishes a formal mechanism in which DRC Gold Trading SA will purchase gold from artisanal and small scale miners across the country and sell it to the central bank. The BCC will then convert these holdings into monetary gold, adding tangible assets to its international reserve portfolio.
“This mechanism allows us to make our currency stronger,” Wameso said, explaining that gold purchased from local miners and transformed into official reserves will support the stability of the Congolese franc and provide a buffer against external economic shocks.
A Strategic shift in monetary policy
The DRC’s pivot toward building gold reserves reflects broader economic imperatives. In a global environment marked by currency volatility, inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainties, central banks worldwide are increasingly valuing precious metals as a store of value that complements traditional foreign exchange assets. This shift mirrors similar trends globally, where nations are bolstering reserves with gold to hedge against financial instability and enhance confidence in their monetary frameworks.
Under the new framework, gold produced particularly by artisanal and small scale miners who historically operate largely outside formal economic structures will now be channelled into an official, state sanctioned process. This formalisation is expected to curb illicit gold flows, which have long deprived the state of revenue and fuelled informal trading that bypasses official export mechanisms. By integrating artisanal production into the formal economy, the policy aims to secure a stable, transparent supply of gold for reserve accumulation.
Artisanal mining accounts for a significant share of gold output in sub Saharan Africa, yet much of this production has traditionally escaped formal capture, limiting the government’s ability to harness the full economic value of its mineral wealth. The new approach seeks to change that by offering miners a reliable purchaser in DRC Gold Trading SA and a clear route to monetise their output within the legal economy.
Economic and monetary benefits to DR Congo
Adding gold to the central bank’s reserves provides several macroeconomic advantages. Gold is universally recognised as a safe haven asset highly liquid and typically resilient during periods of economic stress. Accumulating gold assets can reduce the DRC’s vulnerability to external shocks, strengthen confidence in the national currency and support balance of payments stability by diversifying reserve holdings. This could be particularly valuable during times when foreign exchange earnings fluctuate due to changing commodity prices or global demand.
By increasing its share of gold reserves, the BCC also positions itself to better manage currency volatility. Gold can act as a hedge against inflation and reduce reliance on volatile foreign currencies. In doing so, the central bank enhances its capacity to buffer the franc against global market shifts and unforeseen financial pressures.
Supporting national sovereignty and financial inclusion
The strategy is not just about macroeconomic stability; it also carries broader social and developmental significance. Governor Wameso framed the initiative as part of a collective national effort to harness the DRC’s natural resources for the benefit of the country’s citizens. “This is so that Congolese people understand that through their daily work, they are strengthening the economy and providing their country with reserves it can rely on,” he said, highlighting the role of everyday economic activity from miners to artisans and entrepreneurs in supporting national prosperity.
Officials believe that the formal reserve programme will help curb illegal mining and smuggling, which have long eroded public revenues and weakened governance in mineral rich regions. A stable, transparent system for acquiring gold from producers could also foster greater trust between the government and mining communities while improving compliance with tax and regulatory frameworks.
While the policy lays a strong foundation for economic strengthening, its success hinges on effective implementation. Formalising artisanal mining requires robust logistics, price competitiveness so miners prefer legal channels, and strong oversight to prevent corruption or leakages. Ensuring that gold flows from remote mining areas into official systems will demand coordinated efforts from government agencies, law enforcement and community stakeholders.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in the BCC’s monetary strategy and represents a broader effort to leverage the DRC’s vast mineral wealth for domestic economic development rather than merely exporting raw commodities. If successful, this framework could serve as a model for other resource rich nations seeking to build reserves, strengthen monetary sovereignty and boost economic resilience in an increasingly uncertain global financial landscape.