TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
DRC Launches Lingala AI and 2,000-Youth Campaign
DRC launches a Lingala AI data project and a nationwide Digital Code campaign led by 2,000 youth volunteers with UNDP support.
August 7, 2026 at 2:49:39 PM
August 7, 2026 at 2:50:19 PM
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AI-enhanced visual: DRC brings Lingala into the digital future.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo - The Congolese government has launched two connected initiatives designed to make the country’s digital transformation more inclusive: a nationwide campaign explaining the Digital Code and a project collecting Lingala-language data for artificial intelligence.
Minister of Digital Economy Augustin Kibassa Maliba officially launched the programmes in Kinshasa on August 6, presenting them as practical steps toward a safer, better-informed and more locally grounded digital future.
The campaign will progressively mobilise 2,000 young volunteers to help citizens understand their rights and responsibilities online. At the same time, the Lingala data project will build the linguistic resources needed for AI systems capable of understanding one of Congo’s most widely spoken national languages.
Together, the initiatives place young Congolese people and Congolese culture at the centre of technological progress.
A Digital Code Brought Closer to Citizens
The DRC’s Digital Code, adopted in March 2023, provides a legal framework for the country’s technology sector. It covers areas such as the protection of users, electronic transactions, personal data, cybersecurity and the development of the digital economy.
The new national campaign is intended to translate that legal framework into clear, accessible information that people can use in everyday life.
According to the official account of the launch, the volunteers will turn provisions of the law into simple messages, videos, infographics, interactive programmes and educational content. Materials are expected to be shared through social media and in national languages so that the campaign can reach audiences beyond legal and technology specialists.
The government’s approach gives young people a direct role in building digital citizenship. Instead of treating them only as technology users, the programme positions them as ambassadors who can help families, students, entrepreneurs, creators and local communities navigate the online environment with greater confidence.
What the 2,000 Young Volunteers Will Do
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