THE Democratic Republic of Congo’s government on Monday floated its currency, effectively devaluing it by 84 % against the dollar, and raised gasoline prices four-fold in measures it said would help stabilise the economy. President Joseph Kabila had promised economic renewal in January, when he replaced his murdered father as leader of the vast, mineral-rich, Central African country which has been split in two by war since 1998. Information Minister Kikaya bin Karubi told state television late on Sunday the decision to abandon the fixed exchange rate was taken ”in order to clean up once and for all the economic and financial situation in the Congo.” It appeared in line with an interim adjustment programme approved by the International Monetary Fund during a recent visit. The central bank said the new rate for the Congolese franc was 315 per dollar from a previous fixed rate of 50. That brings it closer to the 350 francs to the dollar black market rate. – Reuters