LUSA 06/09/2026

Lusa - Business News - Mozambique: Finance minister to discuss new assistance programme with IMF

Maputo, June 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique's government has confirmed that it plans to discuss a possible assistance programme during the visit of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, which begins in Maputo on Monday.

"The visit is part of the relationship between the Mozambican state and that international financial institution and will focus on the joint assessment of fiscal consolidation measures, identifying ways to reduce macroeconomic imbalances, with a view to a potential Credit Facility Programme," said a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

The mission, which runs until 12 June, is headed by Pablo López Murphy and, according to the Ministry of Finance, "plans to hold meetings with different sectors of the government."

An official IMF source told Lusa on May 29 that there would be a review mission to Mozambique during this period to discuss the "best way" to support the country, a visit that takes place at a time when the government acknowledges that it is negotiating a new support programme.

"The objective of the visit is to take stock of recent economic developments and discuss the best way for the IMF to support Mozambique in the future," the source added. The last visit by an IMF mission to Mozambique took place in December, but as part of regular contacts.

Mozambique's Ministry of Finance previously confirmed that it made a "full and early repayment" of $698,587,604 (€630 million) to the IMF on 23 March, settling financing contracted under the Fund for Poverty Reduction and Growth (PRGT).

The payment was made using Net International Reserves (NIR), a decision that Finance Minister Carla Loveira acknowledged this month as demonstrating "prudent management capacity" of commitments, proving to the markets that Mozambique intends to "restore confidence."

"By settling this obligation ahead of schedule, the state demonstrates its capacity for prudent management of its external commitments, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable partner in the international financial system," said Carla Loveira in parliament, answering questions from MPs.

"This decision sends a clear message to the markets: Mozambique honours its commitments and is committed to restoring confidence in an increasingly demanding global context regarding transparency and debt sustainability," she added, emphasising that this action "produces concrete effects on the country's risk perception."

Loveira insisted that "the reduction in exposure to the IMF is interpreted as a sign of strengthening the external position and greater autonomy in conducting economic policy," which "tends to improve the sovereign risk profile."

"This increased credibility can translate, in the medium term, into better external financing conditions, greater investor appetite, and a gradual reopening of access to international capital markets," she said.

In its most recent assessment of the country, released in February, the IMF did not anticipate any decisions regarding new support for Mozambique, which the government has been trying to secure for a year.

The document states that under the last ECF (Extended Credit Facility) programme, the IMF approved approximately $468 million (€398.5 million) in financing for Mozambique in 2022. However, this programme was suspended in April 2025, when approximately $343 million (€292 million) had been disbursed in four tranches.

Mozambique's president, Daniel Chapo, said last June that he expected to sign a new support programme with the IMF in 2025, a view reinforced in the following months and again at the beginning of 2026.

PVJ/ADB // ADB.

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