Designing a National Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo: Toward AI-Enabled Governance and Digital Trust

Abstract

Through this study, we sought to translate the sectoral vision for digitalization of the Democratic Republic of Congo, my home 
country, into a referential programming framework known as the National Digital Plan, with the explicit objective of making Congolese digital transformation a driver of integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress. This National Digital Plan structured around four fundamental pillars (Infrastructure, Digital Content, Applied Uses, and Governance – Regulation), will enable the Congolese State, at national, local, and international levels to incorporate the urgent need for digital transformation of institutions, businesses, and public services into its agenda. It aims to overhaul the traditional top-down architecture of government actions by promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and to build a digital government ecosystem capable of achieving its overarching 
goal: constructing a solid, prosperous, and resilient economy in the digital age. This represents a major systemic and structural revolution that requires appropriate frameworks and mechanisms tailored to the realities of cyberspace. With the ambition of becoming a technological hub at the heart of Africa, thanks to its strategic geographic position and natural resource potential, the Democratic Republic of the Congo saw the need to establish a National Cybersecurity Strategy to protect its digital assets from the cyber threats that plague the global web. This National Cybersecurity Strategy defines the strategic and structural framework for developing digital trust, protecting the cyber environment, securing and defending information systems, and combating cybercrime. The core principles and foundational elements of this approach will underpin our contribution during the upcoming exchange sessions in Tokyo, Japan.