DRC Prime Minister Presents 2026 Finance Bill of $20.3 Billion to Parliament
DRC 2026 Finance Bill: Prime Minister Suminwa Submits $20.3 Billion Budget with 16% Increase
The September parliamentary session opened with a major institutional event at the People’s Palace. On Monday, September 15, 2025, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka submitted the 2026 Finance Bill, estimated at 59,020.5 billion Congolese Francs (CDF), or USD 20.3 billion, alongside the Bill on the rendering of accounts for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Budget, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Communication and Media. With this submission, the Head of Government complied with Article 126 of the Constitution, which requires the national budget for the following year to be presented by September 15.
“I came to fulfill the constitutional duty which obliges the Government to submit, by September 15 at the latest, the Finance Bill for the following year, that of 2026. 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,” declared Judith Suminwa.
Strategic Priorities of the 2026 Budget
In her address, the Prime Minister highlighted the key priorities of the 2026 budget:
strengthening national security and defense,
boosting agriculture and economic diversification,
developing infrastructure and energy,
improving education and civil service efficiency.
She explained that the apparent decline in agricultural allocations is due to a reclassification of certain funds, now transferred to the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories (PDL-145T) and provincial-level investments under the Ministry of Planning.
A 16.4% Increase Compared to 2025
Compared with the 2025 revised budget of 50,691.8 billion CDF (USD 17.7 billion), the 2026 Finance Bill reflects a 16.4% increase.
Balanced in both revenue and expenditure, the budget aims to:
consolidate macroeconomic stability,
double domestic revenue by 2028,
rebuild conflict-affected areas,
reduce social inequalities,
and improve the population’s well-being.
The government also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing structural reforms, including digitalizing financial authorities, rationalizing tax exemptions, and improving the business climate. These measures are designed to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization and ensure more transparent public financial management
