The DRC is moving to reduce its underlying dependence on the dollar and strengthen its own currency. Almost 88% of deposits in the Congolese banking sector are denominated in foreign currencies, especially dollars. From early April 2027, the DRC will ban cash payments in foreign currencies, while the central bank takes exclusive control of foreign-banknote imports. Dollar accounts and electronic payments will remain legal. The country is also considering requiring companies in extractive industries to convert a share of their dollar export proceeds into Congolese francs. The DRC’s Minister of Finance discusses how to build trust in the Congolese franc, the country’s broader economic agenda and what lessons the DRC’s move offers for Africa’s wider push for stronger local currencies.