DRC Selected as Key Partner in Italy’s Artificial Intelligence Plan for Africa

The Republic of Congo is among the key countries spotlighted in Italy’s latest strategic push to accelerate digital innovation across Africa. As part of a broader commitment to collaborative tech development, Italy officially launched its Artificial Intelligence Center, a new initiative designed to serve as a catalyst for digital growth on the continent.

The launch event brought together a dynamic mix of public and private sector leaders, digital experts, and decision-makers from across Africa and Europe. Congo’s Minister of the Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, attended as a guest of honor, underlining the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s digital future.

“For Africa, artificial intelligence is only relevant if it is decentralized, accessible, and based on our development priorities.”

– Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Congo 

His remarks reflect a shared sentiment across Africa—that emerging technologies like AI must be tailored to local realities and serve as tools for equity, not exclusion. He further emphasised AI’s potential to become an “accelerator of justice, dignity, and prosperity.”

Congo Among 14 Pilot Nations in Italy’s Mattei Plan

Congo’s participation is part of its selection as one of 14 pilot countries in Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, a strategic program aimed at deepening cooperation through investment in sustainable development, technology, and innovation. Minister Ibombo expressed pride in Congo’s inclusion, calling it “a testament to the confidence placed in our country and its digital ambitions.”

He highlighted the existing groundwork already laid through partnerships like the UNDP-supported national AI strategy and support for youth-led digital innovation, signalling that Congo is ready to translate this collaboration into tangible outcomes.

AI Center to Support 500 African Startups

Italy’s newly launched AI Center has set ambitious goals to energize Africa’s tech landscape:

• Support for 500 African startups, offering access to vital data and digital infrastructure.

• 30 to 50 strategic partnerships with private sector players to enable cross-border collaboration, tech transfer, and knowledge exchange.

• Significant investment in scalable AI projects, focused on long-term, inclusive innovation.

The initiative aims to establish a vibrant AI ecosystem in Africa—one that fosters homegrown solutions, encourages co-creation, and builds integrated value chains rooted in local contexts.

A Shift in Global Tech Cooperation

Italy’s AI initiative marks a deliberate shift away from traditional aid models toward partnership-based development, aligning closely with the African Union’s digital transformation blueprint. It also sends a strong signal about Europe’s growing interest in Africa’s digital potential—not just as a beneficiary, but as a full partner in global innovation.

For Congo, this collaboration is more than symbolic. It forms part of a broader national vision to diversify the economy, empower youth, and position the country as a digital leader on the continent.

While time will test the outcomes, this early momentum reflects a promising step forward in forging deeper, tech-driven ties between Africa and Europe—with Congo right at the heart of the conversation.