Several African currencies remain under severe pressure at the start of 2026, with Libya’s dinar experiencing a 14.7% devaluation in mid-January amid political disputes and declining oil revenues.
Several African nations entered 2026 with severely weakened currencies, creating immediate economic challenges through higher import costs and inflation. Libya’s central bank devalued the dinar by 14.7% in mid-January, the second devaluation in under a year, as political disputes and falling oil revenues pressured the economy, according to Reuters. The South African rand showed mixed signals while awaiting central bank interest rate decisions, Reuters reported.
10 African countries with the weakest currencies at the start of 2026 (per USD):
- São Tomé & Príncipe – 22,282 Dobra
- Sierra Leone – 20,970 Leone
- Guinea – 8,700 Guinean Franc
- Madagascar – 4,483 Malagasy Ariary
- Uganda – 3,541 Ugandan Shilling
- Burundi – 2,938 Burundian Franc
- Tanzania – 2,548 Tanzanian Shilling
- Democratic Republic of Congo – 2,279 Congolese Franc
- Malawi – 1,720 Malawian Kwacha
- Rwanda – 1,447 Rwandan Franc