The Democratic Republic of Congo is hosting the Central Africa Internet Governance Forum from Thursday, November 7, to Friday, November 8, 2024, at the Fleuve Congo Hotel in Kinshasa. Focused on the theme: « Digital Transition in the Context of Artificial Intelligence: Current Trends and Opportunities for Central Africa, » this forum is being held in a hybrid format, both in-person and online.
In his opening speech, the President of the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC), Mr. Christian Katende, the host of this event, stated that while the Internet is a powerful tool contributing to the development of African countries—enhancing access to education, healthcare, information, job creation, and strengthening diversity, dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity among peoples—« it (the Internet) is not without risks or challenges, » he warned.
Furthermore, President Katende acknowledged that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only rapidly transforming the world but also disrupting the future of humanity. At the same time, he pointed out that AI raises extremely complex questions.
Given these development challenges, Mr. Katende advocates for Internet governance that is open, transparent, democratic, inclusive, secure, accessible, and respectful of human rights. A governance framework that involves all key stakeholders: governments, the private sector, civil society, international and regional organizations, universities, and research centers. « It is through the collective involvement of all these actors that we will be able to regulate and harness the implications of AI governance, addressing its complexity, ethics, security, responsibility, and transparency, » he asserted.
DRC: A Potential Hub for Digital Exchange
« The Democratic Republic of Congo holds a strategic position in infrastructure development within our region and continent, making it a natural hub for exchanges between North and South Africa, as well as between East and West Africa. It has the potential to become one of the world’s largest digital data transit points, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope, » said the ARPTC President.
Recognizing these strategic challenges and opportunities presented by its geostrategic position, he noted that the DRC has developed a project for the deployment of a national broadband network. This network will integrate a national fiber-optic transmission system of over 50,000 km, coupled with a satellite system, ensuring full national coverage and enabling the population to access high-quality digital services at an affordable cost.
« In this perspective, we align ourselves with the vision of President Félix Tshisekedi: ‘to make Congolese digital technology a lever for integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress,' » he added.
Forum Highlights and Partners
On the first day of the forum, four discussion panels were organized:
- Foundations of the Digital Transition
- National Policies and Strategies to Accelerate Digital Transformation and AI for Development in Central Africa
- Foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Application Sectors in Central Africa
- AI for Sustainable Development in Central Africa
Several key partners from the Internet governance ecosystem actively participated in this event, including:
- IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) – An international organization of national parliaments.
- ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
- AFRINIC (African Network Information Center, Africa’s Regional Internet Registry).
- ISOC (Internet Society).
- AFRALTI (African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute).
- ARPTC (Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo).
- And many others.
