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Economy - 13 August 2026

EquityBCDC And Digital Economy Ministry Sign Financial Inclusion Partnership

By Jean-Marc Okito2 min read

Kinshasa, August 13, 2026 - Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba and EquityBCDC Chief Executive Willy Mulamba signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at accelerating digital transformation and financial inclusion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The partnership is aligned with the 2019 National Digital Plan and the 2023 Digital Code. It covers the expansion of artificial intelligence capabilities, development of a self-onboarding platform, and creation of digital identification and payment infrastructure under Congolese regulations.

EquityBCDC, a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings following the majority acquisition of BCDC in July 2020, is expected to support broader access to formal financial services, including for underserved populations.

The agreement comes after the creation of the Digital Economy Ministry in August 2025 and reflects the government's push to build a more inclusive digital finance ecosystem. Implementation will be closely watched by banks, fintech investors and payment providers assessing the DRC's regulatory and infrastructure readiness.

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