DIGITAL (29)
Pan-African banking group Ecobank Group and China’s top B2B cross-border trade payment platform XTransfer have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding to revolutionize cross-border payments between Africa and China, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in foreign trade. Ecobank announced the deal on February 6, 2025.
The collaboration comes at a time when trade between China and Africa reached a record $282 billion in 2023, with $18.75 billion attributed to flows between China and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This positions the DRC as China’s fourth-largest trading partner in Africa, making it a key market for Ecobank, which has a strong local presence.
Through the memorandum, Ecobank and Xtransfer aim to tackle the persistent challenges of international transactions, such as high costs, currency exchange risks, lengthy remittance times, and regulatory hurdles.
In the DRC, banks currently charge transfer fees ranging from 0.75% to 1% of the amount transferred, with a minimum of 45 to 50 USD. Processing times can range from three days to a week or more, and some transactions are subject to restrictions that further slow down the process. Another major issue is the constant depreciation of the Congolese franc. In 2024, according to the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), the local currency depreciated by 0.12% on the official market and 0.39% on the parallel market against the US dollar.
Better fees
“XTransfer will leverage Ecobank’s extensive network across Africa, enabling its Chinese clients to collect funds in local African currencies while assisting African SMEs in making payments in their local currencies to negate foreign exchange issues,” Ecobank indicates on its website. “By integrating XTransfer's cutting-edge solutions with our pan-African payment platform, we simplify payments, reduce transaction costs, and enable African businesses to thrive in global trade,” said Ecobank’s CEO, Jeremy Awori.
XTransfer’s competitive pricing model also stands out. Payments to supplier accounts in China are capped at 0.4%, while transfers between two XTransfer accounts are free and instantaneous. It remains to be seen how this pricing will evolve under the partnership with Ecobank.
“Leveraging Ecobank’s extensive payment network in Africa will accelerate our business expansion in the region,” commented Xtransfer CEO and Founder, Bill Deng.
For Ecobank, this partnership aligns with its broader strategy to drive financial integration across Africa while boosting its net banking income. In 2023, the bank ranked sixth in the DRC with $61 million in net banking income, far behind market leader Rawbank at $461 million.
While the collaboration with XTransfer should help Ecobank be more competitive, the two partners must overcome various hurdles, including banking regulations, especially in the DRC. In its latest report on banking in the DRC, issued in December 2024, Deloitte revealed that the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) has been tightening the sector, introducing stricter rules to enhance transparency and combat money laundering.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Last year, at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) started building “a unified national database for higher and university education”. The system tracks students from enrollment to graduation and academic staff from recruitment to retirement.
According to a circular dated February 12, 2025, the database will be managed through the PathAcademia digital platform, developed by Hope Systems and Finance. The circular was signed by Marie-Thérèse Sombo Ayanne, Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education (ESU).
The same note indicates that the "ESU Digital Solution" fees will be paid to Hope Systems at $20 per student. With approximately 564,000 students enrolled in higher education in 2019-2020, this partnership is projected to generate over $11 million in revenue for Hope Systems in 2025, potentially increasing with annual student growth. However, it remains unclear whether this payment will be recurring or a one-time settlement.
The contract between the Ministry and Hope Systems has not been publicly disclosed, making it difficult to determine the full scope of services the company is expected to provide. Nonetheless, the circular indicates that the PathAcademia platform should be capable of storing historical data, integrating bank payment systems, and interfacing with existing digital management models within educational institutions. Typically, such services also include data storage and protection, platform maintenance, and user training.
For now, little is known about Hope Systems and Finance, as its website is currently under maintenance and the company does not appear to be active on social media. During a recent meeting with the Minister of ESU, the company's operations manager, Alex Mukadi, described it as an IT specialist firm.
Pierre Mukoko and Boaz Kabeya (intern)
As the conflict between the M3 rebels and the Congolese army persists in the eastern region, the DR Congo government has mandated open and distance learning in public and private universities. The decision was formalized on February 6, via a decree signed by Higher Education Minister Marie-Thérèse Sombo. It took effect the same day.
“Open and distance learning constitutes a mode of teaching accessible to all and it doesn’t in-person teaching,” the decree reads. “It leverages information and communication technologies (ICT) to provide educational content, carry out learning activities, and conduct exams.”
At the Council of Ministers meeting on February 7, Minister Sombo presented distance learning as a “suitable solution for ensuring the continuity of courses despite the Rwandan aggression.”
However, implementing this approach requires urgent action, including deploying digital platforms for online courses, helping teachers and students to appropriate digital tools, and establishing partnerships to strengthen digital training and infrastructure. Safe learning centers should also be set up.
A major barrier to the e-learning project could be power disruption in the eastern region, as many power facilities have been damaged. This threatens the supply chain; a situation that could make running e-learning platforms harder. Internet connection quality, essential for e-learning, also poses a challenge.
The Congolese authorities said they would set up a special commission to oversee the e-learning project to ensure adaptation to local realities and challenges from instability in certain provinces. The commission will also monitor and evaluate the impact of the measures, adjusting the strategy as needed.
While primarily an emergency response, the project could birth a more modern education system in the DRC. Increased use of digital technology could strengthen the sector's resilience and promote wider access to education, particularly in remote or conflict-affected areas.
This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
General Technologies (GT), an Indian technology solutions provider, will invest in the DR Congo's digital infrastructure. In a press release issued on Feb 6, 2025, HT Syndication, a subsidiary of Indian media group HT Media Ltd., said GT successfully signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project with the Congolese government.
The ambitious plan calls for a total investment of $1 billion by 2028, earmarked for constructing three state-of-the-art data centers, developing satellite infrastructure to improve connectivity in remote areas, extending 3G and 4G networks, and deploying 38,000 km of fiber optic cable
"This memorandum of understanding, exclusive to General Technologies (GT), includes an advisory position within the Ministry of Telecommunications. The Congolese government undertakes to provide visas, administrative offices, and land to enable GT to complete the projects by December 31, 2028", the press release stated
As the MoU is a preliminary agreement, definitive agreements are needed to solidify the investment framework; especially since projects sometimes remain at that stage in the DRC. However, if it goes through, the investment could "revolutionize" the DRC's underdeveloped telecoms infrastructure, as GT's promoters claim
Last year, the DRC's telecoms infrastructure index stood at 0.1591 out of 1, according to the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The indicator is a key component of the e-government development index (EGDI), which stood at 0.2715 out of 1. Both figures were behind the averages for Central Africa (0.3354), Africa (0.4247), and the world (0.6382), positioning the DRC at 179th out of 193 nations.
This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
In a groundbreaking move, Orange RDC and Vodacom Congo have formed a joint venture to expand network coverage in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Under the new partnership, solar-powered mobile base stations will be set up across the country.
The move aligns with the two telcos’ efforts to enhance connectivity in the DRC. Vodacom Congo, for instance, recently connected the towns of Busanga and Kakula to its 3G network, providing advanced communication services to residents in these mining areas.
For its part, Orange RDC partnered with NuRAN to build 2,000 cell phone sites, to connect over 10 million previously unserved Congolese. Also, the telco and Liquid Intelligent Technologies completed a 2,300 km fiber optic network linking several towns across the east and west of the country. The project cost $20 million. Its goal: providing high-speed Internet access to individuals and businesses, thus reducing the digital divide.
These initiatives demonstrate the telecom operators' commitment to supporting the economic and social development of the DRC by improving access to information and communication technologies, particularly in rural and remote areas.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has completed phase I of its Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project. Nine cities have been connected under this phase, according to the interministerial committee steering the project. The committee presented the progress to Communication Minister, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, on December 19.
Under the next phase of the project, 46 more cities will be covered. This phase should cost around $60 million.
The interministerial committee has opted for a restricted call for tenders to select a technical partner for this stage. During the December 19 meeting, a roadmap was established to guide subsequent phases and ensure effective execution while avoiding logistical and financial challenges. The full completion of this project is expected to yield significant economic benefits.
"Besides benefits in terms of image quality, reduced operating costs, and an expanded TV offering, DTT can improve TV audience measurement. Thanks to the statistics provided by set-top boxes, advertisers will be able to identify which TV channels are really being watched and refine their communication and marketing strategies accordingly," explained Servan Ahougnon, a journalist specializing in communication at Ecofin Agency.
A dynamic and modern audiovisual sector is likely to attract foreign investment, encouraging technology transfer and the growth of new businesses. DTT could stimulate local content production and foster the emergence of job-creating creative industries such as audiovisual production and directing.
According to the Global System Operators' Association (GSMA), migrating television to digital will free up significant spectrum for mobile services in the 470-862 MHz frequency range. These frequencies are suitable for long-distance communications, enabling mobile operators to extend network coverage to rural areas while offering lower costs to consumers, thereby promoting greater mobile penetration.
This would also allow telecom operators to deploy high-speed technologies like 4G or 5G more easily and offer new services such as interactive TV, mobile TV, and video-on-demand. These should generate increased financial revenues for both telecom operators and the government. Since its launch in 2018, DTT has generated $82 million in revenue for the public treasury, and the government aims to increase these earnings.
This article was initially published in French by Muriel Edjo
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
DR Congo is buying a satellite using a $20 million facility secured from SICOMINES, a Sino-Congolese mining project. Gilbert Kabanda, Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, disclosed the news on Dec. 10, 2024, during a plenary session of the Senate.
"A commission has been set up to define the technical characteristics of this satellite, which will be an important step in strengthening our technological sovereignty and improving the management of our territory," Kabanda said, addressing some senators’ concerns. The purchase aligns with a strategy to modernize the country’s natural resource management tools and enhance its digital infrastructure.
In 2022, after revealing a project to buy a $100 million satellite, the Congolese government launched a call for tenders through the Ministry of Scientific Research. Concurrently, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and New Information and Communication Technologies (PT-NTIC) signed an agreement with Monacosat, a satellite operator from Monaco, to provide satellite-based Internet connectivity.
With the new satellite, the DRC will modernize geographic infrastructures and safeguard strategic data in digital formats. The satellite will also facilitate territorial observation by identifying agricultural production zones, industrial basins, and transportation challenges due to inadequate road infrastructure. It will also help secure borders, monitor areas affected by natural disasters, combat illegal mining activities, and better protect the population against rebels.
This project reflects the DRC's commitment to leveraging technology for improved governance and resource management. The government's ongoing collaboration with international partners like Monacosat translates attests broader efforts to boost connectivity and tackle the country’s critical infrastructure deficits.
This article was initially published in French, by Samira Njoya, Ecofin Agency.
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Vodacom DRC, a mobile operator, will reinforce the digital skills of a million youths, with the support of Amazon Web Services (AWS). The training program, TechStart, was unveiled on November 13. Trainees will be equipped to meet the skills needs of companies or start their businesses, in line with the government’s ambition to leverage digital technologies to bolster the Congolese economy.
The mobile operator stressed that TechStart should help enhance its Vodaeduc platform, which “has already reached over a million people with its educational content”, thereby strengthening access to essential skills for the future.
Launched in 2017, this free platform provides access to educational resources in video format covering subjects such as math, science, IT, economics, and finance. It also includes content tailored to Congolese school curricula, catering to the learning needs of young people at all educational levels.
According to the World Bank, digital literacy will become a must for African workers over the next decade, even in sectors where they were previously non-essential. Covid-19 sped up the shift. In its 2021 report titled "Demand for Digital Skills in Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Findings from a Five-Country Study," the World Bank forecasts that by 2030, some level of digital skills will be necessary for 50-55% of jobs in Kenya, 35-45% in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Rwanda, and 20-25% in Mozambique.
The World Bank also estimates that sub-Saharan Africa will create 230 million digital jobs by 2030. Most of these jobs will arise from the growth of digital services, requiring intermediate or advanced digital skills as well as basic digital and financial literacy accessible to all. In this context, Vodacom DRC's digital skills training initiative aligns well with similar efforts led by the Congolese government, particularly through the Ministry of Professional Training and partners like Huawei.
Muriel Edjo
Poland will help the Democratic Republic of Congo develop its digital sector. The related Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 8, 2024, by Augustin Kibassa Maliba, the Congolese Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, and Krzysztof Gawkowski, the Polish Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization. This agreement focuses on improving digital infrastructure, training, cybersecurity, digitizing administrative services, and supporting tech startups, among others.
Specifically, Poland will help the DRC acquire hardware and technology to enhance its communication and digital systems. The agreement also includes support for public administrations to boost efficiency, transparency, and access to services.
Regarding cybersecurity, the deal aims to strengthen the DRC's defenses against cyber threats by providing technical assistance during attacks and developing rapid response strategies.
The memorandum also plans to establish ICT vocational training centers to prepare a new generation of digital professionals in the DRC. These centers will focus on practical training and access to advanced technologies. Additionally, there will be training programs and workshops for ICT professionals and civil servants to enhance their skills in digital technology and cybersecurity.
Support for startups is also included in the agreement, offering opportunities for study trips, professional exchanges, access to technology incubators, funding, mentoring, and essential equipment.
The MoU is a milestone in cooperation between the DRC and Poland, and it is Poland's first digital agreement with an African nation. It follows a meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Polish President Andrzej Duda during the UN General Assembly last September. Since then, experts from both countries have been collaborating on various digital and border surveillance projects.
Pierre Mukoko
Africell Holding Limited, a telco present in various African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raised $300 million in the international capital market last month. This funding came from a covered bond issue that will mature in 2029. The offering was popular among investors, with bids totaling $550 million.
Africell will use the money to refinance its existing debt and boost its investment capacity, especially in the DRC, where the company has strong growth potential. The financing package also includes a $30 million revolving credit facility yet to be used. This deal improves Africell's financial position by reducing short-term cash needs and supporting sustainable growth. The funds will help lower operating costs and manage currency risks, which are important issues in the DRC, and Angola, another market where Africell operates.
Besides the DRC and Angola, Africell is well-established in markets like Gambia and Sierra Leone. Although the DRC is the telco’s fourth-largest market, the country’s size and increasing demand for mobile and internet services present major opportunities for expansion.
A year ago, Africell announced plans to expand into three new provinces in eastern DRC: North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika. The company wants about four million new customers in these areas where access to mobile networks is poor.
The recent fundraising was arranged by Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, and Standard Chartered. Part of the proceeds will help enhance Africell's network infrastructure, diversify its financing sources, and increase sales while ensuring financial stability for future investments in the DRC and other African countries.
Georges Auréole Bamba
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Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, met with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, on September 24. During the meeting, Gates explored the possibility of improving satellite internet connectivity to bolster education in the DRC. According to the Ministry of Health, the American billionaire requested the audience.
If the project moves forward, Gates might implement his satellite internet solution on a large scale using technology from Kymeta, a company in which Microsoft invested $85 million in 2020. This would give Gates an edge over Elon Musk, whose Starlink services are currently banned in the DRC due to licensing issues.
Bill Gates expressed interest in the DRC's agricultural sector, which needs substantial investment to meet national demand and develop its potential as a food exporter. He also mentioned support from the Gates Foundation for public health initiatives, particularly in fighting diseases like polio.
Few days before the meeting, Congolese Minister of Higher Education Marie-Thérèse Sombo launched the "One student, one computer" project. This project aims to make university training more innovative. "This project aims for inclusiveness and equity, as it grants the same opportunities to all students, without distinction," the official said, quoted by Radio Okapi.
Though it was not reported, Gates and Tshisekedi may have also talked about mining. In November 2023, KoBold, a company active in Zambia's copper sector, expressed interest in expanding into the DRC. KoBold's main shareholder is Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which includes several billionaires like Gates and Jeff Bezos.
Georges Auréole Bamba
Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Technologies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is also in New York, US, for the ongoing 79th UN General Assembly. On the sidelines of the event, Maliba said he will explore innovative solutions for digital cooperation with various government partners and international organizations at Google's office in Manhattan.
The Congolese official also said he will promote investment opportunities in the DRC's digital sector. Minister Maliba will participate in a bilateral meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Polish consulate in New York.
Digital technology is a key part of the DRC’s economic diversification strategy. Under this strategy, the Congolese government plans to improve broadband connectivity, enhance digital inclusion, transform public services, and attract international investors in high-value digital products and services.
Minister Maliba's trip to the U.S. follows his recent visit to China, where he presented business opportunities in the Congolese digital sector to potential investors. The national digital plan aims to "use the digital sector as a lever for integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress." The DRC needs expertise and funding to achieve this. The talks in New York could help the country in this regard.
Muriel Edjo
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to make the country a top international tourist destination by 2030. To attract 10 million visitors and create between 200,000 and 500,000 jobs, social networks have been identified as a key tool, along with other services.
On September 11, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, highlighted the importance of social networks for promoting the country's image internationally. "We, Congolese, are key tourism players to ensure that our country is visited by investors. Beyond the efforts made by the government, we have a responsibility to speak well of the Congo to our children... We must know that the image we want to build must first be carried by future generations," Maliba said during a Forum to Validate the National Tourism Strategy.
Maliba also mentioned that new telecommunications laws now allow for the prosecution of offenses committed through social networks: "We're in the process of educating the Congolese about what's in these texts that protect us all, including the country's brand image. When the time comes, we'll tighten the screw because it's not normal to see what's happening on social networks."
During the recent China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, the DRC signed a memorandum of understanding with an undisclosed Chinese company for a social network monitoring system. Commenting on the matter, Maliba clarified that this would not involve blocking networks or closing accounts; instead, it aims to encourage quality content production as part of the country's branding strategy.
The DRC's economy heavily relies on natural resources like lithium and cobalt. However, in line with International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendations, the country now seeks to diversify its economy.
Tourism contributes less than 2% to GDP, according to the Congolese Ministry of Tourism, and 1.8% according to the World Travel and Tourism Council in 2024.
Muriel Edjo
Chine Nouvelle, a Chinese news agency, wants to contribute to the digital transformation of the Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP). Last week, during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Fu Hua, President of Chine Nouvelle, renewed this commitment to ACP Director General Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya, stressing the importance of strengthening media ties between China and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The partnership announcement comes amidst major challenges facing Congolese media outlets, especially the ACP. Such challenges include upgrading infrastructures and integrating new technologies.
According to the ACP chief, Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya, the ACP must shift to digital if it wants to "stay relevant in a global landscape where information is disseminated at great speed, notably via digital platforms".
Chine Nouvelle’s support will help the ACP produce and distribute news in a more modern way. This collaboration could also stimulate cultural and media exchanges between China and the DRC. "Our two people don't know each other well enough. Our media must collaborate to enable better mutual understanding between the Congolese and the Chinese,” Bakumanya, ACP’s boss said.
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