• (Ecofin Agency) - Only 38.4% of Congolese have internet access in early 2025, giving opportunity to tap on the 60% remaining offline, for growth expansion.
• CARIA, a pan-African AI center was unveiled. It will support research, training, and innovation in health, education, and agriculture.
• Congo signed an MoU with Genew Technologies. The deal supports AI skills training, connectivity, and e-government projects under its $100M World Bank–backed digital plan.

The Republic of Congo has outlined its vision for digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) development during the BRICS Forum on the Partnership for the New Industrial Revolution, held from September 16–17, 2025, in Xiamen, China.

Leading the delegation, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, presented Congo’s strategy to position itself as a hub for digital innovation in Africa. The country’s participation falls within the framework of its cooperation with China under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where Congo currently holds the African co-chairmanship.

As part of this strategy, Congo is advancing several flagship projects, including the Central African Backbone to boost regional connectivity, the National Data Center as a pillar of technological sovereignty, and an ongoing nationwide expansion of telecommunications coverage. Complementary initiatives such as e-government platforms and youth training programs are aimed at preparing Congolese citizens for the digital economy.

A key announcement at the forum was the creation of the Africa Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence (CARIA). Developed in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Information and Communication Technologies (CAICT), CARIA is envisioned as a pan-African hub for research, training, and innovation. It will host a joint AI laboratory, advanced training programs, and facilities focused on applications in healthcare, education, agriculture, and sustainable cities.

Officials stressed that Congo’s approach prioritizes the co-construction of inclusive, locally adapted solutions rather than the simple adoption of imported technologies. CARIA will also be linked to global initiatives such as the BRICS AI Center, the Smart Africa Alliance, and the AI Hub in Rome, enabling Africa to play an active role in shaping international digital governance.

These ambitions come against a backdrop of persistent digital divides. As of early 2025, only about 38.4% of Congolese had internet access, leaving over 60% of the population offline, according to Datareportal — a gap that underscores the urgency of Congo’s digital initiatives.

By investing in sovereignty-building infrastructure and pan-African research institutions, the country seeks to bridge the continent’s digital divide, attract international partnerships, and ensure African priorities are represented in global technology development.

Also on the sidelines of the forum, the Congolese government announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese technology company Genew Technologies to strengthen digital infrastructure, support the development of the digital economy, and train young people in AI. Ibombo described Genew as a new investor aligned with the government’s goal of making the digital sector the fifth pillar of its National Development Plan (2022–2026).

Hikmatu Bilali