DR Congo Biometric National ID Project Faces Cancellation Over Alleged Financial Irregularities

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s biometric national ID project is facing potential cancellation due to alleged financial irregularities. This development comes nearly a year after the country announced the launch of its new national ID card ahead of its national election.

The contract for the ID project was awarded to a consortium consisting of Afritech, a local firm, and Idemia, a French identity giant. However, the contract has come under scrutiny with accusations of “overbilling,” prompting calls for renegotiation.

According to reports, Samba Bathily, the founder of Afritech, has been restricted from leaving the country as state authorities investigate his business activities.

The DRC’s Ongoing National ID Challenges

The DRC has struggled with its national ID system for years. Before the launch of the biometric national ID cards last year, the last issuance of identity cards occurred between 1984 and 1987, resulting in incomplete plastic card distribution.

In 2020, the country announced plans to implement a new population register and biometric ID system by the end of the year through a “private partnership or other types of financing.” Although the World Bank was supposed to fund the project in at least two installments, the plan fell through, and the project was subsequently put on hold.

Recent Developments and Future Prospects

In February 2023, major companies in the biometrics and digital ID sector, including France’s Idemia and Thales, and Germany’s Veridos, were reportedly in the running for the contract to produce new-generation national ID cards. In 2022, Pangea, an Israeli firm, was awarded a government contract worth over $70 million to provide an automated biometric identification system for law enforcement and background checks.

Public-Private Partnership Agreement

The ID project is part of the DRC’s public-private partnership (PPP) agreement, which aims to develop and operate a centralized, automated criminal biometric identification system (ABIS). This system will enable the government to issue certificates of integrity (certificates of non-criminal record) for citizens.

Mastercard and Rawbank’s illicocash Initiative

In related developments, Mastercard and Rawbank’s illicocash have partnered to launch virtual cards in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, further advancing the country’s digital financial infrastructure.

The future of the biometric national ID project remains uncertain as investigations continue and the government considers its next steps to ensure transparency and accountability in its national identification system.