• Congo’s Treasury aims to raise CFA55 billion ($98.2 million) on Sept 9.

• The issue includes short-term treasury bills and 3-year bonds at 6% interest.

• Public debt hit CFA8,536 billion in 2024, equal to 92.3% of GDP.

Congo’s Treasury will seek CFA55 billion ($98.2 million) on the public securities market of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) on September 9, the institution announced.

The operation combines treasury bills and treasury bonds with varying maturities to meet short- and medium-term financing needs.

In the short term, the Treasury will offer CFA35 billion in 13-week bills, maturing on December 11, 2025, and CFA5 billion in 26-week bills, maturing on March 12, 2026. In both cases, yields will be prepaid, meaning they will be deducted in advance from the nominal amount.

For the medium term, CFA15 billion in 3-year bonds will be issued, maturing on August 17, 2028, with a net annual interest rate of 6%, paid each year.

This comes after a previous issuance on September 2, 2025, where the Treasury targeted CFA50 billion through bills and bonds but raised CFA45.8 billion.

Funds from these issuances are intended to support state cash flow and finance investment projects amid growing pressure on public finances. According to the Congolese Debt Repayment Fund (CCA), Congo’s public debt stood at CFA8,536 billion as of December 31, 2024, representing 92.3% of GDP, up from CFA6,596 billion in 2020.

This nearly 30% increase in four years was driven mainly by rising domestic debt, which grew from 47.6% of GDP at the end of 2020 to 56% by the end of 2024. External debt fell from 63.5% to 36.3% over the same period. The CCA also noted significant arrears, estimated at CFA1,745 billion for domestic debt and CFA355.41 billion for external debt as of December 31, 2024.