Hook: The issuance of national identity cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a long-awaited breakthrough.
Introduction:
For more than 40 years, the Congolese have been waiting for the establishment of a national identity card system. Finally, this wait is about to end, with the imminent launch of operations to issue identity cards by the National Population Identification Office (ONIP). This announcement was made during a press briefing moderated by the Minister of Communication and Media, Government Spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, the acting Director General of ONIP, Stanislas Kenza Lukengu, and the Africa Director of international firm “IDEMIA”, Cédric Huet. In this article, we will examine the issues and perspectives linked to this new stage of national identification in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Identity cards: a government promise kept.
Minister Patrick Muyaya stressed that the issuance of the national identity card was a promise from the Congolese government. After decades of waiting, the Congolese will finally be able to obtain an identity card, free of charge. This progress is all the more significant as it will allow citizens to benefit from numerous services and rights to which they did not previously have access.
Application procedures: a question of documentation.
According to the acting Director General of ONIP, beneficiaries must have a voter card, a Congolese passport, a driving license or present three witnesses attesting to their belonging to the DRC. In order to facilitate the process of issuing cards, people with a certain public reputation will be able to be identified from December 16, 2023, at the Ministry of the Interior. This approach aims to ensure rapid and efficient processing for public figures.
Safety: a major concern.
One of the important aspects of this new identity card is its security. The Africa Director of the international firm “IDEMIA”, Cédric Huet, highlighted the use of LASINK laser engraving technology for the security of the color portrait integrated into the polycarbonate card. Additionally, a secondary portrait of the holder appears as a ghost image, adding an extra layer of security. Finally, rainbow offset printing applies a color gradient across the entire width of the card, thus reinforcing its resistance to counterfeiting.
Conclusion:
The issuance of national identity cards in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents a significant step forward for Congolese citizens. After many years of waiting, they will finally be able to benefit from the advantages linked to having an identity card, such as access to various services and rights. In addition, the enhanced security of this new card offers additional protection against counterfeiting and fraud. This step marks a major turning point in the national identification process in the DRC, and demonstrates the government’s desire to put in place concrete solutions for its citizens.