• President Félix Tshisekedi instructed the government to strengthen social media regulation during the February 27 Cabinet meeting in Kinshasa.

• Internet users in the DRC increased from 21.14 million in 2021 to 34.7 million in early 2026, while social media users rose from 4 million to 10.4 million.

• Authorities may adopt “proportionate restrictive measures compliant with the law, while respecting fundamental freedoms.”

President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo instructed the government to strengthen oversight of social media in order to prevent abuses. He issued the directive during the 80th ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, February 27, in Kinshasa.

The head of state tasked the Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals and the Minister of Digital Economy with proposing and implementing measures in consultation with relevant services. These measures aim to promote responsible, ethical and rational use of social media. They may include, where appropriate, “proportionate restrictive measures compliant with the law, while respecting fundamental freedoms,” according to the report read by Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Digital Economy.

The directive comes amid rapid growth in social media adoption alongside expanding telecommunications services, particularly internet access. Data from DataReportal show that the number of internet users rose from 21.14 million in 2021 to 34.7 million in early 2026, representing a 64.1% increase and an estimated penetration rate of 30.5%. Over the same period, the number of social media users increased from 4 million to 10.4 million.

Congolese authorities stated that “far from serving exclusively positive purposes, social media increasingly constitute vectors of misinformation, public disorder, hate speech, opinion manipulation and incitement to division among Congolese, thereby undermining national cohesion, public order and social stability.”

The decision also comes amid persistent security challenges in several provinces. Security issues rank among the most debated topics on social media platforms.

Promoting and Enforcing the Digital Code

The presidential communication places strong emphasis on promoting and enforcing the Digital Code adopted to regulate the use of digital platforms in the DRC. The president stated that this legal instrument already provides mechanisms for prevention, regulation and repression of online abuses. However, he noted that authorities and the public still insufficiently understand and apply the code.

The government will not limit the awareness campaign to citizens. The Minister of Communication and Media will coordinate with public and private operators to conduct continuous public awareness campaigns through educational initiatives. Authorities will also target magistrates under the coordination of the Superior Council of the Judiciary in order to ensure consistent and deterrent enforcement of the relevant provisions.

The executive branch is also prioritizing education. The Ministries of National Education and Higher Education will gradually integrate training modules on responsible digital use into school curricula. Authorities will incorporate issues related to social media and artificial intelligence into youth training programs.

The relevant ministers must submit a detailed report every two weeks outlining actions taken, results achieved and potential challenges encountered. This reporting mechanism will enable monitoring and evaluation of the directives’ implementation. However, authorities have not yet disclosed the precise implementation measures.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum