KIGALI, Rwanda — September 22, 2026: President Paul Kagame met Dr. Regis O. N’Sonde, an Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at Urugwiro Village in Kigali on Tuesday for discussions centered on Rwanda’s economic performance and its continuing cooperation with the international financial institution.
According to Rwanda’s Presidency, N’Sonde represents Rwanda and 22 other African countries on the IMF Executive Board. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Rwanda’s economic growth and the country’s continuing engagement with the Fund. The talks come as Rwanda pursues major development investments while seeking to preserve macroeconomic stability amid changing global economic conditions.
The meeting follows a period of particularly strong economic expansion. IMF figures show that Rwanda’s real gross domestic product grew by 9.4 percent in 2025, supported by construction, manufacturing, services and agriculture. The Fund expects growth to moderate during 2026 while remaining comparatively strong, with its June country report projecting real GDP growth of about 6.8 percent for the year and 7.2 percent in 2027.
Rwanda and the IMF also entered a new phase of financial cooperation earlier this year. On June 8, the IMF Executive Board approved Rwanda’s request for a 38-month Extended Credit Facility arrangement worth SDR 185.031 million, equivalent at the time to approximately US$250 million. An immediate disbursement of roughly US$35.7 million was authorized. The IMF said the program is intended to support macroeconomic adjustment, manage fiscal and debt risks, encourage private-sector-led growth and protect priority development and social spending.
N’Sonde has previously highlighted Rwanda’s economic resilience while also acknowledging the pressures confronting the economy. In a June 2026 statement to the IMF Executive Board, he and Senior Advisor Loy Nankunda noted that Rwanda recorded strong economic activity in 2025 and emphasized the authorities’ commitment to addressing inflation through coordinated monetary and fiscal policies.
The economic outlook nevertheless contains significant challenges. IMF assessments have pointed to inflationary pressures, global energy and fertilizer prices, external financing needs and the costs associated with major infrastructure investments. The Fund’s June assessment projected average inflation of 10.4 percent in 2026 before declining over subsequent years under its baseline assumptions.
The IMF has described Rwanda’s economy as resilient despite these pressures. When approving the Extended Credit Facility, the institution said the program was designed to help the country maintain growth while rebuilding economic buffers and strengthening management of fiscal and debt risks.
Tuesday’s meeting therefore reflects a broader relationship extending beyond financial assistance to continuing dialogue over fiscal policy, monetary stability, investment and long-term development. For Rwanda, maintaining cooperation with international financial institutions while advancing domestic reforms and strategic investments remains an important component of its economic agenda.
