DRC President Champions Digital Transformation at UN General Assembly
DRC Unveils Digital Vision for 2030: Félix Tshisekedi Calls for Global Support to Transform Congo into Africa’s Tech Hub
At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Félix Tshisekedi placed digital technology at the center of his vision for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Chairing the DRC Digital National 2030 side event, President Tshisekedi described digital transformation as “the key to unlocking the DRC’s potential, creating millions of jobs, and ensuring shared prosperity.” His stated goal is to make the DRC “a technology hub at the heart of Africa by 2030.”
A Gap Between Vision and Reality
Despite this ambitious vision, current indicators show significant challenges. According to the latest UN e-Government Report, the DRC’s Government Digital Development Index (EGDI) dropped from 0.3057 in 2022 to 0.2067 in 2024, placing it well below the global average (0.5754), the African average (0.3862), and the subregional average (0.2651).
However, the UN notes that the country retains “moderately developed human capital and infrastructure”, which could support an expansion of digital services if properly leveraged.
Economic Potential of Digital Transformation
A recent GSMA report estimates that digital transformation in the DRC could deliver:
CDF 11.8 trillion (USD 4.1 billion) in added value by 2029.
Creation of 2.5 million jobs.
CDF 3.0 trillion in additional tax revenue.
Key sectors identified as drivers of this growth include:
Industry — CDF 6.5 trillion in value, 300,000 jobs, and CDF 1 trillion in revenue through AI, IoT, and Industry 4.0 innovations.
Agriculture — CDF 2.1 trillion, 1.7 million jobs, and CDF 300 billion in revenue through digitalization of value chains.
Services — CDF 1.9 trillion, 500,000 jobs, and CDF 300 billion in revenue powered by digital platforms and e-government solutions.
Key Challenges Ahead
Despite the promise, three major challenges remain:
Insufficient infrastructure.
Lack of local skills in digital engineering and artificial intelligence.
An unclear regulatory framework for digital development.
In this context, Minister of Digital Affairs Kibassa Maliba appealed for increased support from international partners to help implement the National Digital Plan, Horizon 2025.
Experts suggest a step-by-step approach to realize the vision:
Launching pilot digital corridors in major cities.
Establishing technical training centers to build local skills.
Gradually extending digital infrastructure to rural areas.
President Tshisekedi’s vision reflects the DRC’s aspiration to harness digital transformation as a foundation for economic growth and regional leadership — a bold step toward making the DRC Africa’s next major technology hub.
