The Congolese government is banking on international cooperation to accelerate its digital transformation. In November 2024, a memorandum of understanding was already signed with Poland to develop digital infrastructure.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Qatar are exploring ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, among others. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi (photo, left) and Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (photo, right), on Sunday, January 5, during an official visit to the Middle Eastern nation.

This rapprochement comes as the Congolese government intensifies its efforts under its vision of making "Congolese digital technology a lever for integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress." In 2024, the country ranked 41st out of 47 African nations in ICT development, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with a score of 31 out of 100. Furthermore, official sources report that internet penetration in the DRC is at 30%, compared to about 50% for mobile telephony.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) ranked the DRC 175th out of 193 countries globally in e-government development in 2024, with a score of 0.2715 out of 1. This places the country below the regional averages for Central Africa (0.3354), Africa (0.4247), and the global average (0.6382).

Regarding cybersecurity, the ITU places the DRC in Tier 3, a category for countries that "demonstrate a basic commitment to cybersecurity through government-led actions, including assessment, establishment, or implementation of some generally accepted cybersecurity measures." The country faces significant challenges in areas such as technical measures, capacity building, and cooperation.

In contrast, Qatar boasts an ICT development score of 97.8 out of 100 and an e-government development score of 0.8244. The ITU also considers Qatar a global model in cybersecurity.

Strengthening collaboration with Qatar could provide the Congolese government with the support needed to develop its ICT sector and accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. However, the specific details of this partnership, including areas of intervention and implementation timelines, have yet to be defined. Moreover, no formal agreement has been signed or officially announced between the two parties at this time.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji