The Central Bank of Congo (BCC) said on October 14, 2025, that it will carry out on-site inspections and impose disciplinary measures, including possible license withdrawals, against currency exchange bureaus and money changers that fail to comply with regulations.

The move is aimed at curbing malpractice in the foreign exchange market, particularly the posting of speculative rates, excessive buy-sell spreads, and other violations of Administrative Instruction No. 007, amended in 2023 to govern manual foreign exchange activity.

The bank reiterated that operators are prohibited from displaying rates outside their offices and must adhere to official indicative exchange rates. It said its inspectors will verify compliance and recommend sanctions where necessary. The public was urged to conduct foreign exchange transactions only through commercial banks and authorized bureaus.

The announcement follows directives issued by President Félix Tshisekedi during the October 3 Council of Ministers meeting, where he ordered immediate action to stop speculation undermining monetary stability.

The crackdown comes a week after the BCC cut its policy rate to 17.5% from 25% to encourage franc-denominated financing and support the de-dollarization of the economy. As of October 14, the official indicative rate stood at 2,246.57 Congolese francs per U.S. dollar, reflecting the currency’s continued appreciation.

Boaz Kabeya