Congo and Russia Strengthen Digital and AI Cooperation During High-Level Meeting
The discussions took place in the minister’s office and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in digital development, innovation, education, and artificial intelligence.
The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the Republic of Congo, Léon Juste Ibombo, received a delegation from the Russian Federation led by officials from the Russian Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy in a high-level meeting marked by cordiality and mutual respect.
The discussions took place in the minister’s office and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in digital development, innovation, education, and artificial intelligence.
At the start of the meeting, Minister Ibombo expressed appreciation for the Russian delegation’s participation in the inauguration ceremony of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, describing it as a strong symbol of the enduring friendship between Congo and Russia.
A key focus of the talks was the advancement of the African Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence (CARIA), a flagship digital infrastructure project. The Congolese side welcomed Russia’s commitment to financing phases 3 and 4 of the project through a debt-to-development conversion mechanism involving Sberbank.
According to the minister, all required documentation for the project has already been submitted, and both sides are now working toward final technical and administrative validation to enable timely disbursement of funds. Once completed, the project will support the rollout of training programs and digital education initiatives, including the implementation of the “School 21” programme at CARIA.
The meeting also reviewed progress on a memorandum of understanding with the Higher School of Economics, with both parties agreeing on the need to accelerate implementation. A three-year action plan is expected to be developed, focusing on advanced artificial intelligence training, academic programme development, and research capacity building.
CARIA’s integration into the AI Alliance was also highlighted as a major milestone, positioning Congo to participate more actively in global artificial intelligence collaboration. Expected benefits include knowledge sharing, joint research initiatives, and the creation of innovative training frameworks for young professionals.
Minister Ibombo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using digital transformation as a strategic driver of national development, emphasizing partnerships that deliver practical and measurable outcomes.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism that Congo–Russia cooperation is entering a more operational phase, focused on innovation, impact, and youth development.
