A giant in Africa takes baby steps in digital government

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Straddling the centre of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a huge country, the largest in the geographic region and the 11th largest in the world. 

Rich in mineral resources, DRC also has the second-largest rainforest in the world with incredibly rich biodiversity. More interestingly, it has the largest French-speaking population in the world, and its capital, Kinshasa, is home to the world-renowned Congolese music that has been highly influential throughout Africa.  

Impressive as these are, since 2019, the DRC’s focus has been on using modern technology to bring prosperity to its citizens. 

When GovInsider caught up with DRC’s Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, in Singapore recently, he emphasised the country’s ambitions to digitalise its government services. 

Fundamental priority 

He said that digitalisation was a fundamental priority for the country, and his team was pursuing the Congo Digital 2025 plan.  

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To create a digitally inclusive and economically competitive nation, this strategy focused on key areas like e-governance, digital infrastructure, and digital skills development. 

Speaking in French, through an interpreter, Kibassa Maliba, whose Ministry is charge of implementing the government’s digitalisation strategy, said that DRC’s first step was working to improve its telecommunications and digital infrastructure. 

The government has reduced taxes and fees to encourage investment, with a focus on expanding telecommunication and digital connectivity across the country's vast territory, the Minister highlighted  

Fund for infrastructure development 

Significant progress has been made since 2019, particularly in urban areas, with the establishment of a Universal Service Fund (USF) to support infrastructure development in rural and mid-urban regions.  

The USF is a mechanism where telecommunications companies operating in Africa contribute to a fund that supports providing telecommunications services to areas where consumers have limited access due to affordability or location.

The Minister noted that, while much progress had been made, infrastructure development was the primary challenge due to the country's massive landmass of 2.3 million square kilometres.  

The government has completed around 12,000 km of a required 55,000 km connectivity network, with coverage reaching up to 85 per cent in major urban areas. The government is using satellite communications technology for areas which are hard to reach, the Minister said. 

“The government's mission was to ensure no citizen is left unconnected, using satellite technology and strategic investments to overcome geographical barriers,” Kibassa Maliba said. 

Digital identity system 

The government was also in the process of rolling out a digital identity system for citizens, using blockchain technology to protect sensitive data.  

“This digital identity would serve as the first step towards comprehensive e-government services, with a particular focus on digitalising land and property records initially,” said Kibassa Maliba. 

DRC has signed a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with Singapore-based Trident Digital Tech Holdings to deploy a digital identity system that is expected to create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in digital technology, cybersecurity, administration, and services. 

“While the current collaboration centres on digital identity, both parties see potential for future expanded cooperation across various digital transformation initiatives, contingent on the success of the initial stages,” the Minister said. 

To store citizen data securely, DRC has been working with the private sector to set up Tier 3 data centres. These types of data centres had multiple redundancies built into them to ensure always available services. 

The first phase of the country’s first Tier 3 data centre has already started functioning. 

The Minister added that the country had identified land and property records as the first sector to be digitalised within the e-government transformation strategy.  

This initiative aimed to completely transform the current paper-based system by digitalising all operations and transactions related to land, including sales, transfers, acquisitions, and property management, the Minister said. 

He added that a digital platform would be created, covering the entire land and property ecosystem. 

Developing human capital while being cautious with AI 

The Minister added that the government recognised the importance of developing human capital and for this it was implementing comprehensive training strategies to build digital literacy.  

“This included updating administration skills, integrating digital programs into educational curricula, and ensuring knowledge transfer through international partnerships. 

“The approach focused on overcoming resistance to technological change and preparing the workforce for digital transformation,” Kibassa Maliba said.  

He added that the DRC government recognised the importance of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as an essential enabling technology and a “must for modern governance.” 

He, however, added that the government's approach to AI was cautious and strategic.  

“We are first prioritising the development of regulations to ensure ethical and responsible use of AI.  

The primary focus is on establishing rules that prevent misuse and guide the implementation of AI technologies in a responsible manner, he said.  

“The government saw AI as a tool for improving service delivery, similar to approaches taken by advanced digital governments like Singapore,” he said.  

International cooperation 

The Minister added that the DRC was “actively pursuing” inter-African cooperation in digital infrastructure development.  

Key initiatives include the African Telecommunication Union, bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries, and participating in regional projects like the Central African Backbone project, Kibassa Maliba said. 

The objective of the project was to increase the geographical reach and usage of regional broadband network services and reduce their prices. 

Elaborating on the government’s long-term strategy, Kibassa Maliba said the aim was to create a robust e-government platform that would gradually digitalise all citizen services.  

“The ultimate goal was to create a comprehensive digital ecosystem that enhances government efficiency and citizen access to services,” he added.