The 2026 Conference of Provincial Entities (CONFEP) recently took place in Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event, which ran from September 30 to October 2, 2026, brought together participants to discuss and strengthen the functioning of provincial entities of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC). The conference aimed to improve the implementation of the BCC's missions across the country and enhance its proximity to local economic realities.
The conference featured six panels and resulted in a synthesis report presented to the Governor of the BCC, André Wameso. During the closing ceremony, Wameso urged participants to transform the recommendations into concrete measures. He emphasized the need for a clear approach with specific deadlines, progress indicators, and a well-defined distribution of responsibilities. The Governor also acknowledged the challenges faced by provincial entities, including personnel shortages, outdated infrastructure, and connectivity issues.
To ensure the implementation of the recommendations, a special commission will be set up to develop a roadmap. The technical secretariat will consolidate the conclusions with deadlines, monitoring indicators, and a clear distribution of responsibilities. André Wameso stressed that it is not enough to identify problems; concrete, measurable, and sustainable solutions must be provided. The recommendations focus on strengthening human resources, modernizing infrastructure, automating processes, and managing risks.
The conference also highlighted the need to strengthen coordination between the BCC's headquarters and provincial entities. Improving reporting, enhancing institutional communication, and developing the skills of provincial network managers were among the proposed solutions. The Governor encouraged provincial managers to promote innovation, performance, and professionalism to make provincial entities effective relays of the BCC's action on the ground.
The CONFEP 2026 conference addressed various topics, including currency circulation, financial inclusion, payment digitalization, and the monetary reform planned for 2027. André Wameso emphasized the role of provincial entities in supporting reforms and consolidating monetary and financial stability. He expressed his wish for the adopted resolutions to be translated into concrete actions that are monitored, measurable, and sustainable.
The closing ceremony also announced a consensus on celebrating the anniversary of the BCC's creation on February 23 every year. This date marks the creation of the National Bank of Congo, the institutional ancestor of the current Central Bank of Congo, by decree-law on February 23, 1961. The Governor hoped that this celebration would contribute to strengthening the institution's identity, collective memory, and sense of belonging.
The successful organization of the conference was attributed to the efforts of the organizing committee, technical secretariat, speakers, and participants. The Governor extended his gratitude to the Lualaba authorities for their contribution to the event's success. The conference is part of the BCC's 2026-2030 strategic plan, which aims to make the institution modern, credible, innovative, and closer to local realities.
Key points
- The CONFEP 2026 conference concluded with a call to transform recommendations into concrete actions to strengthen the provincial entities of the Central Bank of Congo.
- The conference aimed to improve the implementation of the BCC's missions across the country and enhance its proximity to local economic realities.
- A special commission will be set up to develop a roadmap for implementing the recommendations, with deadlines, monitoring indicators, and a clear distribution of responsibilities.
