Context: Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. When Sassou Nguesso returned to power at the end of the war in October 1997, he publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit.

Question: What caused reform efforts to cease in 1997?
Answer: civil war

Question: What are two reasons why the economy was not able to progress following the civil war?
Answer: slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict

Question: When did military conflict resume in the Congo?
Answer: December 1998

Question: What organization never supported economic reform efforts?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: When did the reform program start?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: When did Sassou leave power?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What was helped by slumping oil prices?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: Who did not express interest in economic reforms?
Answer: Unanswerable