Rwanda on Thursday reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a 38-month Extended Credit Facility programme valued at SDR 185 million (approximately $250 million), with final approval expected in June 2026.
The programme is designed to support Rwanda’s reform agenda, strengthen macroeconomic stability, rebuild financial buffers, and mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict. It also prioritizes prudent fiscal management, debt sustainability, and private-sector-led growth, alongside enhanced oversight of state-owned enterprises. Finance Minister Yusuf Murangwa said the facility would help cushion external shocks, sustain investment ambitions, and advance structural transformation.
Despite robust economic growth of 9.4 percent in 2025, inflation rose to 9.2 percent in February 2026, exceeding targets. While export performance—particularly in coffee and minerals—boosted the external position, high import demand for investment goods persists.
Albert Touna Mama cautioned that continued global pressures, including the Middle East conflict and tighter financing conditions, could weigh on inflation, debt, and external balances. Growth is projected to moderate to 6.8 percent in 2026 amid rising costs of oil, fertilizer, and ongoing large-scale investments.