On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the Financial Corporation International (SFI) granted a senior loan of 14.5 billion CFA francs (approximately $25.5 million) to Bank of Africa Congo (BOA Congo).

Worded in local currency, the loan granted to the BOA Congo represents the first direct investment of the IFC in a Congolese financial institution since 2016. It is guaranteed by the facility of financing in local currency from the IDA private sector window. Ce In particular, the loan will allow BOA Congo to offer longer-term loans and at more accessible rates. The aim is to finance more than 3000 small businesses over the next five years, in a context where credit to the private sector remains limited, accounting for 13.8% of GDP.

According to Mamadou Igor Diarra, regional director of BOA Central Africa, “each franc mobilized through this partnership will be invested wisely, in the exclusive interest of the Congolese economy and the development of the local private sector. Our ambition is clear: make BOA Congo the reference bank for SMEs, a bank that includes their challenges, anticipate their needs and offer them innovative solutions, accessible and responsible.”

This investment is part of the SFI strategy 2030, focused on mobilizing private capital for growth inclusive in Africa.

According to the MSME Finance Gap report, nearly both A third of small Congolese businesses still face obstacles to access financing, and women entrepreneurs remain particularly disadvantaged. Because only 44% have a bank account and 9% have access to a formal loan.