Fatshimetrie: Diving into the heart of the digital revolution in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the depths of Africa, a ferment is brewing. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing a silent but powerful revolution: the advent of the digital age. With more than 28 million Internet users in 2024 and 53.36 million active mobile connections, Congo is seeing digital technologies become more democratic, becoming an essential pillar of daily life and economic growth in the country.
Over the years, digital adoption in the DRC has grown steadily. In 2024, the Internet penetration rate reached 27.2%, marking a significant development in a country where infrastructure has long limited access to new technologies. However, it is the mobile phone that has really changed the game, with more than 53 million active connections, representing 51.4% of the population and thus becoming the main vector of access to the digital world.
Social networks are not left behind, with 6.45 million users in January 2024, representing 6.2% of the population. Platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp have established themselves as indispensable tools for communication, business and even education, paving the way for rapid expansion in various sectors.
E-commerce is emerging as one of the most dynamic markets in the DRC, driven by the surge in internet access and the development of mobile money. Local and international players are competing for this new ground, offering consumers a diversity of products that were previously inaccessible. Whether via dedicated platforms or social networks like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Marketplace, e-commerce in the DRC is taking off and catalyzing a new form of commerce.
In 2024, industrial and professional products will represent 16.67% of online sales in the DRC, followed by clothing (11.33%) and computers (8%), reveals AfterShip. This diversity demonstrates the ability of e-commerce to meet the varied needs of consumers and businesses. Local success stories, such as this startup specializing in refurbished electronic devices, demonstrate the positive impact of the transition to e-commerce, making it possible to reach customers who were previously inaccessible.
However, challenges remain, particularly in terms of logistics infrastructure, making deliveries to rural areas costly and slow. Initiatives aimed at improving this essential link in the chain, such as collaboration with local courier services, demonstrate the sector’s desire to develop in an inclusive and sustainable manner.
At the same time, e-commerce relies closely on the fintech ecosystem in the DRC. Mobile money platforms, such as Airtel Money and Orange Money, are positioning themselves as the main payment methods for online transactions, providing a solution to consumers excluded from the traditional banking system and thus promoting financial inclusion.
The fintech sector, a true revolution in financial access in the DRC, is disrupting habits and offering innovative solutions to the challenges of the population. In a country where less than 10% of the population has access to traditional banking services, fintech players are opening up new perspectives, offering services such as payments, savings and microcredits via mobile technologies.
By 2024, the mobile money market in the DRC will exceed $6 billion per year, according to the Central Bank of Congo. Major players, such as M-Pesa, have reshaped the financial landscape by allowing millions of people to send and receive funds instantly, reducing the risks and costs of cash transactions.
While international platforms are dominating this booming market, local startups such as Noki Noki and Ascapay are standing out for their innovative and local approach. By partnering with cooperatives to offer digital savings accounts to farmers or facilitating payments for small businesses, these players are playing a key role in promoting financial inclusion and in the country’s economic development.
Ultimately, the Democratic Republic of Congo is fully embracing its digital revolution, exploring new economic and social horizons thanks to the advent of e-commerce and fintech. This technological evolution opens up unprecedented opportunities for the country’s growth and development, promising a bright future but also challenges to ensure an inclusive and equitable digital transition for all Congolese.