DIGITAL (38)
The TALO price-control app is scheduled to begin its rollout in November across several cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by Minister of National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba during an interview on Kinshasa-based Top Congo FM.
The minister said the first phase will cover seven major cities, with six more to follow by year-end. The goal is to enable real-time tracking of prices for food and other staple consumer goods.
Developed by young Congolese professionals, TALO was unveiled by Minister Mukoko Samba on January 14, 2025. Designed to modernize the economic inspection service, the app helps field agents collect data more efficiently and increases transparency in business practices for consumers.
In Kinshasa, where the application is already in use, TALO has replaced manual price reporting. Agents now record data on their phones at market sites and send it directly to a central database. According to Jocelyne Mayungu Bwanga, head of the Kinshasa-East office at the Ministry of National Economy, the switch to digital data collection has significantly reduced processing times.
The ministry posts monthly reports on its official website summarizing the data. The latest report, for July, showed that weekly price tracking in Kinshasa covered 39 staple consumer products, 183 brands, and 62 types of traders across 16 markets, including Central, Gambela, Zigida, and Liberté.
Price differences of up to 40% were sometimes observed for the same product between different outlets. To identify the underlying causes, the ministry has commissioned a Congolese consulting firm to conduct a study. One preliminary finding points to two main supply routes: goods entering through the Lufu border with Angola tend to be cheaper than those coming via Matadi port.
By expanding TALO to the provinces, the Ministry of National Economy aims to strengthen its nationwide price-monitoring and regulatory capacity. The ultimate goal is to curb market speculation and protect consumers’ purchasing power.
Timothée Manoke
• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to invest $1 billion in public funds and secure an additional $500 million from international partners to implement its new five-year digital strategy.
• The plan aims to transform the DRC into a regional digital hub by 2030, with a focus on AI, connectivity, and digital inclusion.
• The country’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy will include the creation of a Congolese AI academy to train young talent and foster innovation.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched the drafting process for its National Digital Plan 2026–2030 (PNN2) and its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Ministry of Digital Economy said on Wednesday.
Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba announced the initiative, which aims to position the DRC as a regional digital hub by 2030.
“This is about capturing the dividends of digital transformation and positioning our country — rich in critical minerals essential to the digital and energy transitions — as both an investment catalyst and a provider of solutions to global challenges,” Kibassa said.
The new plan will rest on four main pillars: infrastructure and connectivity development, creation of digital public platforms and services, human capital enhancement and digital inclusion, and strengthening of cybersecurity and digital trust.
It will also integrate five cross-cutting axes — digital entrepreneurship, innovation, technological sovereignty, artificial intelligence, and strategic partnerships — to ensure coherence across policy areas.
To support this roadmap, the government plans to invest $1 billion in public funds over five years, complemented by $500 million in external financing already secured from international partners.
As part of the AI strategy, authorities will establish a Congolese Artificial Intelligence Academy to train young professionals, promote applied research, and stimulate local innovation.
This initiative follows the National Digital Plan “Horizon 2025”, launched in 2019, which achieved about 60% of its objectives. The first plan laid the groundwork for the digital economy through improvements in fiber-optic connectivity, regional integration projects such as CAB5, and the introduction of e-government tools like online tax portals and customs modernization via a single window system.
Ongoing projects include the digitization of civil registration and the establishment of a national digital ID system.
With PNN2, Kinshasa seeks to consolidate these achievements and accelerate its digital transformation. A GSMA report presented last month estimated that digital technologies could contribute 9.8 trillion Congolese francs (about $3.6 billion) to the economy by 2029, provided that fiscal and regulatory reforms advance.
The same report suggested that digital adoption could unlock 8.6 trillion FC in additional economic value across mining, agriculture, and public services.
Through this new strategy, the DRC aims to strengthen its technology ecosystem, create thousands of skilled jobs, and attract more investment in high-growth digital sectors.
This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya, Agence Ecofin
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• GSMA estimates telecom reforms could generate 9,800 billion Congolese francs ($3.7 billion) in GDP by 2029.
• Mobile operators in DRC face a tax burden of 91% of profits, among the heaviest compared to mining (71%) and banking (34%).
• The sector could connect 9.7 million new mobile internet users and unlock $3.2 billion in value across mining, agriculture, and public services.
The first Digital Africa Summit in Kinshasa on Sept. 18 became a platform for mobile operators to advocate tax and regulatory reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The push relied on a report by the GSMA, the global mobile industry association, titled “Driving Economic Growth through Digital Transformation in the DRC.”
Angela Wamelo, GSMA’s Africa director, said the reforms could add 9,800 billion Congolese francs ($3.7 billion) to GDP and connect 9.7 million additional mobile internet users by 2029. The report projected that mobile adoption could release more than 8,600 billion Congolese francs ($3.2 billion) in value across mining, agriculture, and public services.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo has the opportunity to leapfrog into a digital-driven economy,” Wamelo said. “But to realize this potential, reforms in taxation, spectrum management, and energy infrastructure must be a priority. We aim to regulate this sector in DRC to make it more transparent and attract investors,” she added.
A separate GSMA report from June, “Mobile Sector Taxation: Comparative Tax Burden in DRC,” highlighted the heavy fiscal environment operators face. It said mobile operators pay on average 91% of their profits in taxes, compared with 71% for mining companies and 34% for retail banks. The report blamed multiple sector-specific levies, often calculated on revenues, for deterring investment and limiting service expansion.
The GSMA urged simplification and harmonization of taxes. It recommended modernizing fiscal frameworks through rationalization of sectoral taxes to lower consumer prices and encourage investment. It also called for a collaborative national framework, coordination of energy and digital policies, expanded spectrum access, license reform, skills development through public-private partnerships, and integration of mobile platforms into education, health, and government services.
The government, facing major financing needs, has argued that telecom operators must pay their “fair share” of taxes. Some officials questioned the fiscal contribution of multinational operators, noting that some had not declared taxable profits in nearly two decades, raising suspicions of tax avoidance.
Despite these concerns, Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba welcomed the GSMA report. He described it as a “clear diagnostic” of the sector’s progress and challenges. “We have the responsibility to transform the recommendations of this report into concrete actions, because it is through them that we will build a true digital economy,” he said.
According to GSMA, the mobile sector contributed an estimated $63–64 billion to DRC’s GDP in 2022 and $66 billion in 2023.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
• President Félix Tshisekedi pledged $1 billion in public spending from 2026–2030 to implement the new national digital plan.
• The program will focus on infrastructure, e-government, cybersecurity, and digital skills training, with emphasis on women and youth.
• DRC signed an MoU with Cisco and Cybastion to train 250,000 young people in cybersecurity, data science, and programming.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi announced a $1 billion public investment to support the country’s next five-year digital development plan. The pledge, made Sept. 26 during the “DRC Digital Nation 2030” event at the UN General Assembly in New York, represents an annual commitment of $250 million from 2026 to 2030.
Tshisekedi said the initiative aims to position Congo as a technology hub at the heart of Africa.
According to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the program will center on four pillars: expanding digital infrastructure such as connectivity and data hosting, developing e-government services, strengthening cybersecurity governance, and building digital skills. Training programs will prioritize women and young people.
Dominique Migisha, head of the Digital Development Agency, said unfinished projects from the current plan—achieved at roughly 60% due to funding gaps—will be incorporated into the new program.
Tshisekedi stressed that digital development depends on political stability and implementation of peace accords with Rwanda and the M23 rebels. Security improvements are also vital to attract private investors.
On the sidelines of the forum, Digital Minister Kibassa Maliba held talks with U.S.-based Unity Development Fund, which expressed interest in investing in infrastructure, innovation, and youth entrepreneurship.
Congo also signed a memorandum of understanding with Cisco and Cybastion to train 250,000 young people over five years in fields such as cybersecurity, data science, programming, operating systems, technical English, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship.
This article was initially published in French by PM & Ecofin Agency
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Highlights:
• Fintech Paymetrust approved by Congo’s central bank as aggregator on July 4.
• Platform offers real-time supervision of financial flows, enhancing compliance.
• Already active in 14 African countries with over 10 million transactions in 2023.
Fintech company Paymetrust announced it had received, since July 4, 2025, approval from the Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC) to operate as an aggregator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This allows the startup to legally provide its services in the country.
“This approval reflects our commitment to contributing to the development of the Congolese digital ecosystem. We want to offer reliable solutions that accelerate the digitization of payments while complying with the strict standards of the Central Bank,” said CEO Moussa Haïdra.
The company’s technology platform enables regulators and stakeholders to monitor financial flows in real time, strengthening traceability, transparency, compliance, and transaction security. In line with BCC requirements, Paymetrust will also connect to the national electronic money switch to ensure interoperability.
Its unified API allows seamless integration between ecosystem players, a major challenge in Congo’s fragmented payments market. Paymetrust already operates in 14 African countries, including Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tanzania, and processed more than 10 million transactions worth $5 million in 2023.
The platform supports over 65 payment methods — from mobile money to bank cards and e-wallets — and offers an intuitive dashboard for merchants and users. Payments can be made in five currencies: XAF, XOF, GNF, TZS, and USD.
Ronsard Luabeya
Highlights
• Singapore firm secures funds via PIPE transaction led by Chaince Securities.
• Proceeds to support launch of DRCPass, Congo’s national e-ID platform.
• System aims to curb SIM fraud, streamline e-services, boost financial inclusion.
Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd said on Sept. 16 it had raised $2.6 million to fund the launch of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s digital ID system. The Singapore-based company said the proceeds, net of costs, will go to the expansion and commercialization of DRCPass.
The system, developed under a public-private partnership with Kinshasa, will make Trident the DRC’s exclusive provider of electronic ID services (e-KYC) which uses Web3-based technologies. The system will enable biometric SIM authentication, and single sign-on access to public services.
The financing was arranged through a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) deal led by Chaince Securities, a unit of Mercurity Fintech Holding. Trident issued Class B shares with reduced voting rights to undisclosed institutional investors. A resale registration statement will be filed with the US SEC.
Authorities say the platform is expected to cut fraud linked to fake SIM cards, expand e-government services, improve access to credit, and serve as a secure complement to physical ID. Before the official launch, DRCPass must clear audits, pilot tests, and a nationwide awareness campaign.
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Visa launches Visa Pay app in Kinshasa to boost digital payments and financial inclusion
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Service supports CF and USD transactions, with low-cost bank account options for unbanked users
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Five banks onboard, with more joining soon; DRC chosen as pilot market due to high cash usage
Visa has launched its Visa Pay mobile application in Kinshasa, aiming to expand access to digital financial services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where cash remains the dominant payment method.
Launched on September 4, the app allows users to transfer money, pay merchants, make deposits and withdrawals, and shop online using virtual cards. Transactions can be made in both Congolese francs (CF) and U.S. dollars (USD).
Sophie Kafuti, General Manager of Visa DRC, said the initiative seeks to reduce costs, improve interoperability, and support financial inclusion. “Today in the DRC, there are several fragmented payment systems. With Visa Pay, payments become secure, fast, and reliable, accessible to students and seniors alike, whether banked or unbanked,” she said.
Accessible, low-cost tool
Designed to consume little mobile data and memory, Visa Pay also allows users without a bank account to open one at low cost with partner banks. “Thanks to agreements with Visa, people can access affordable banking services,” said François Jurd De Girancourt, Visa Vice President for Strategy in Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The rollout begins with five banks — Access Banque, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, and UBA — with BGFIBank, Equity Bank, and TMB expected to join shortly. The app is also available via partner banks’ mobile platforms and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
Pilot Phase
Visa chose the DRC as a pilot market due to its high reliance on cash. The country’s financial ecosystem, combining banks and mobile operators, was seen as favorable for building an interoperable solution.
The launch follows Visa’s expansion in the DRC since 2022, including partnerships with Vodacom — which issued 150,000 Visa cards linked to M-Pesa — and a $1 million financial education program with the Financial Inclusion Fund (FPM).
Ronsard Luabeya
A partnership with Monaco-based satellite operator Monacosat will enable the Democratic Republic of Congo to acquire a satellite for an estimated $400 million, the presidency announced after a meeting between President Félix Tshisekedi and Monacosat representative Jean-Philippe Anvam on August 30.
The investment, which amounts to nearly a quarter of the country’s 2025 budget, will be financed by a loan. Anvam stated that "a bank has already mobilized the necessary funds," though he did not name the institution.
The previous day, however, Fidelity Bank CEO Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe met with Minister of Digital Economy Augustin Kibassa and confirmed her bank’s readiness to finance the project. She announced that a joint Fidelity Bank-ministry team would be formed to define the project's parameters.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Congolese government and Monacosat in November 2024. The project aims to deploy a satellite to reduce the DRC's digital divide and facilitate high-speed internet access across the country, particularly in rural and remote areas with limited telecommunications infrastructure.
The satellite is also intended to enhance cybersecurity, support distance learning, improve telemedicine, and stimulate the growth of the digital economy.
It remains to be seen whether a final agreement has been reached, as its signing is an essential prerequisite for the project to become operational.
Boaz Kabeya
Congolese fintech Maishapay has been selected as one of 12 startups for the fourth edition of Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator program. The cohort, running from October to December 2025, includes companies working in areas such as SME digitization, digital lending, cross-border payments, payroll management, B2B payments, AI-driven transactions, social commerce, climate insurance, and neobanking.
By joining the program, Maishapay will gain access to tailored mentorship, specialized training, networking opportunities, and direct links to investors. Since its launch, the accelerator has supported 64 fintechs from 17 African countries, with a combined portfolio value of $1.1 billion. The 12-week program is part of Visa’s $1 billion investment plan in Africa through 2027 to boost financial inclusion and strengthen the continent’s digital economy.
Founded in 2018 by Congolese IT entrepreneur Landry Ngoya, Maishapay is a blockchain-based digital wallet. It allows withdrawals, deposits, mobile payments, money transfers, and offers both checking and savings accounts. Available online and offline, it aims to provide banking alternatives for underserved and unbanked populations.
The platform now counts over 68,000 users, connects with 27 e-commerce sites, and is accepted by more than 14,000 merchants in retail, hospitality, and food services. Already active in the DRC, Congo-Brazzaville, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, Maishapay focuses mainly on young entrepreneurs and women who are often excluded from traditional financial services.
Microlink Networks eyes key role in public digitization, data center development
Highlights:
- S.-based Microlink Networks in Kinshasa for an exploratory mission
- The company proposes to digitize public services and build data centers
- Political support acknowledged, but no formal agreement signed yet
On July 17, 2025, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, the DRC’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Sector, welcomed a delegation from American tech company Microlink Networks in Kinshasa. The visit marks a potential turning point in the country's ambition to digitize public services and modernize its digital infrastructure.
Microlink, a U.S.-based firm known for its data center and structured cabling solutions, expressed its strong interest in becoming a strategic technology partner to the Congolese state. “We want to be a partner of choice for digitization projects in the DRC,” said Yaseen Khalid, CEO of the company. He highlighted their intention to contribute to data center construction and hosting of government information systems—both critical to the country’s digital transformation goals.
Microlink’s marketing director, Ruslan Khamidullin, commended the Minister’s openness and noted that political support has been promised to help advance discussions. Still, the talks remain exploratory, with no formal agreement signed at this stage.
The firm specializes in IT infrastructure deployment, including secure communications, IP surveillance, and turnkey digital solutions for public and private institutions. Its entry into the DRC would align with Kinshasa’s broader push to improve digital governance and public service delivery through international partnerships.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
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The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of Sports and Leisure announced, in a communiqué published on June 19, 2025, the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a public-private partnership with Burundi’s East African General Trade Company (EAGT). This partnership aims to modernize the oversight of the gambling and sports betting sector, a rapidly expanding field in the country.
According to the Ministry, EAGT will implement a centralized digital monitoring system. This system will connect operators' platforms to transmit real-time reports to the Congolese state. The initiative seeks to bolster sector transparency, enhance tax collection (especially the 10% tax on bettors' winnings), and combat tax fraud.
While no specific timeline has been set for implementation, a pilot phase is planned for Kinshasa. An interministerial commission will rigorously supervise this pilot to ensure robust oversight by public authorities. EAGT will fully cover the project's initial funding, with repayment staggered based on generated revenues, thereby avoiding any immediate pressure on state finances.
This project is part of a broader push to regulate the sector. In 2023, during a Council of Ministers meeting, former Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi revealed that 139 illegal operators were active in 2022, with no available data on their revenues. Tax collections that same year reached only one billion Congolese francs, a level deemed very low compared to the sector's real potential.
Faced with this situation, the government had considered creating a regulatory authority equipped with a digital tracking system. Projections at the time suggested such a reform could generate over $100 million annually (280 billion Congolese francs at the current dollar value), solely from the tax applied to bettors' stakes.
Burundi offers a successful example. In June 2024, N-Soft introduced a similar system there. According to the Director General of Burundi's National Lottery, this system led to a dramatic 552% increase in the sector's tax revenues.
On May 23, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to pilot a smart village model. The project aims to provide high-speed Internet access, digital skills training for young people, and to connect local public services such as the civil registry, health, and education. This initiative is part of the national digital transformation strategy to modernize the State and reduce digital inequalities, particularly in rural areas where Internet access remains limited.
The project aligns with broader continental efforts, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, to leverage digitization for sustainable development and inclusion. Mickael Lukoki Nsimba, the prime minister's chief of staff, highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring “equaldigitalopportunitiesforruralpopulationsandbuilding a modern, transparent, and connected state.”
As of the end of 2024, only 34.6% of Congolese had access to mobile Internet, and fixed Internet access was extremely limited at 0.02%, underscoring the importance and urgency of such initiatives.
Samira Njoya, We Are Tech
Airtel remained DR Congo’s top mobile service provider, by sales, last year. It was ahead of Vodacom, Orange, and Africell. According to the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, the subsidiary of the Indian group Bharti Airtel generated $741 million, or 35.5% of the sector's total revenues of $2.09 billion.
Compared to 2023, Airtel’s revenues grew by 7.5%. The Congolese watchdog is attributed to an aggressive sales strategy and ongoing investment in extending its network coverage. As in 2023, Airtel outperformed its rivals: Vodacom captured 32.6% of market revenues, Orange 28.1%, and Africell 3.8%.
Total sales (incl. VAT) (voice+SMS+data+mobile money+other VAS) in dollars
Airtel's momentum is largely based on growth in data and SMS consumption, despite stable revenues from voice, a segment in which Vodacom remains dominant. Airtel remains the leader in data revenues, with $365.5 million (37.7% market share), ahead of Orange (31.5%), Vodacom (27%), and Africell (3.8%). This performance is due to the competitiveness of its packages and the extent of its 4G network.
In the mobile money segment, Vodacom remains in the lead with revenues of $168.5 million (46% market share). Airtel comes second with $137.2 million (37.5%), followed by Orange ($58.5 million, 16%). Africell, despite a 168.3% increase in revenues to $1.7 million, represents just 0.5% of the market.
Number of active cell phone subscriptions
The DRC ended 2024 with 63.96 million active subscriptions (used at least once over 90 days), up 13.7% on 2023, corresponding to almost 7.7 million new subscribers. Vodacom dominates in terms of subscriber numbers, with a 36% market share. Orange and Airtel are neck-and-neck, with 29% each. Africell closes the ranking with 6%.
This article was initially published in French by Muriel Edjo
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is looking for a service provider to deploy digital terrestrial television (DTT) in 54 towns across the country. The provider will be selected through a bidding process. This decision was ratified on May 12, 2025, during a meeting of the National Committee for Migration to DTT (CNM-TNT).
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. It was attended by the ministers of National Defense, Justice, Planning, Budget, Industry, Telecoms, Finance, and Culture.
According to the Minister, progress has been made in the selection process for the service provider, whose identity will be revealed in the coming days. He stated that all procedures have been finalized in collaboration with the Ministry of the Budget, leading to this outcome.
"We have been able to make progress, and that in the next few days, we will have more precise elements that will enable the Congolese and all service providers in the sector to know which partner we will be working with in the rollout of digital television," said the Minister of Communication and Media.
In December 2024, the interministerial commission had opted for a restricted call for tenders to select a technical partner for the next phase of the project, which would extend DTT to an additional 46 towns. The estimated cost of that operation was around $60 million, but with the extension to 54 cities, the cost has not been disclosed.
The first phase of DTT deployment in the DRC has already been completed, with nine cities currently benefiting from the service. Launched in 2018, DTT has generated nearly $82 million in revenue for the public treasury, which the government aims to increase through the subsequent phases of the project.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho