Congolese authorities intend to attract foreign investment to support the ongoing digital transformation. In November 2025, for example, the country approached the British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a memorandum of understanding last week with the American technology company Cybastion to accelerate its digital transformation. This opens the country up further to the involvement of American companies and investors in its market.

The protocol was concluded on Wednesday, April 15, in Washington, D.C., at a meeting organized with the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Atlantic Council, a think tank specializing in international relations. The event brought together investors, officials from the U.S. State Department, and economic decision-makers to discuss the opportunities offered by the Congolese market.

According to the Congolese Ministry of Digital Economy, this agreement marks the concrete entry of American companies into the national digital ecosystem. It lays the foundation for a strategic partnership focused on skills transfer, technological investments, and the acceleration of digitalization.

The American banking group Equity Group Holdings also reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with Congolese authorities to support this transformation. Hugues Efole, Deputy Managing Director of Commerce at Equity BCDC, indicated that the bank intends to go beyond traditional financing and become involved in the technological sphere. “We want to establish concrete links between the ambitions for digitalizing services in the DRC and the need to provide the population with access to affordable digital services ,” he stated.

Congolese digital technology: between ambitions and opportunities

This rapprochement comes as the authorities are banking on digital technology as a lever for socio-economic development. The country aims to become a “Digital Nation” and a technological hub in Central Africa by 2030. In Washington, Minister Augustin Kibassa structured this ambition around three pillars: the deployment of modern digital infrastructure, the establishment of a secure digital identity, and the development of a dynamic digital economy focused on innovation and financial inclusion.

Unveiled in September 2025, the National Digital Development Plan – Horizon 2030 is structured around four pillars. It provides for the strengthening of infrastructure (connectivity and data centers), the deployment of e-government to modernize public services, the improvement of digital governance through cybersecurity solutions, as well as the development of digital skills, with a focus on young people and women.

Addressing investors, the minister highlighted the potential of the Congolese market, with its population of over 100 million, predominantly young. He also emphasized the adoption of the Digital Code, presented as a strong signal in favor of investors, guaranteeing legal security, data protection, and a framework for public-private partnerships. “Investing in the DRC means investing in one of the most promising markets in Africa ,” he stated.

Despite these prospects, the DRC still lags behind on several indicators. For example, according to the latest available official statistics, the country has a mobile penetration rate of 65%, compared to 33% for mobile internet. The actual figures may be lower because some people have multiple SIM cards, each of which is counted as a separate subscription. The GSMA, for instance, estimated the mobile internet penetration rate in the country at 17% in 2024.

During a meeting with British investors in November 2025, José Mpanda Kabangu, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, stated: “Our country is vast, but it is not well connected. There is a digital divide. We have 145 unconnected territories that are calling for investment, and our doors are open to private investors .” He added that the DRC currently has only 4,000 km of fiber optic cable, while the estimated need is 50,000 km, and 5,150 telecom towers, with a target of at least 30,000.

In terms of digital transformation, the DRC ranked 179th out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ 2024 eGovernment Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.2715/1, below the regional and global averages. The country also ranks third out of five in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index. While progress has been made in organizational and legal matters, further efforts are needed in technical capacity building, cooperation, and skills development.

Source: Agence Ecofin