In a bold move to secure a seat on the International Telecommunication Union (UIT) Council, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying its diplomatic outreach. On the evening of 15 July 2026, at the Hilton Hotel in Kinshasa, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Me José Mpanda Kabangu convened a high-level meeting with ambassadors, diplomatic missions accredited in the DRC, and representatives from international telecoms organisations.
The purpose was clear: to formally announce the DRC’s candidacy for a seat on the UIT Council during the upcoming Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026. The election will determine the Council’s composition for the 2027–2030 term.
Me José Mpanda framed the bid as a call for international solidarity and an opportunity for the DRC to play a leading role in Africa’s digital transformation. With the country’s strategic position at the heart of the continent, he argued that the DRC cannot afford to miss this chance to contribute to global telecoms governance.
“Our candidacy at the UIT Council reflects our ambition to position the DRC among global leaders in connectivity. It is about actively shaping international telecoms policies while amplifying Africa’s voice, particularly from developing nations, on critical global telecoms governance issues,” he told the assembled diplomats.
The DRC’s bid is further justified by its role as the host of the African Telecommunications Union (UAT), where Me Mpanda stressed the country’s capacity to drive regional development. “Of the 13 African seats on the UIT Council, the DRC, as the UAT’s permanent host, is best placed to champion African interests—promoting digital inclusion, fostering human and technical capacity, and leveraging our energy potential to power telecoms infrastructure.”
Me Mpanda made no secret of the DRC’s goal: to secure diplomatic backing from the attending envoys. He urged them to lobby their governments, ministries of foreign affairs, telecoms authorities, and regulatory agencies to support the DRC’s candidacy.
Christian Katende, President of the DRC’s Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), highlighted the country’s digital market potential. With over 110 million people and nearly 74 million mobile subscriptions, the DRC is one of Africa’s largest telecoms markets.
“Our ambition is clear: to transform the DRC into Central Africa’s digital hub and a key player in the continent’s digital economy. But our vision extends beyond our borders. We aim to empower Africa to compete globally, accelerate digital integration, and speak with one voice in international forums,” he told the diplomats.
Katende outlined four key commitments underpinning the DRC’s bid: strengthening Africa’s voice in the UIT; promoting investment in networks, satellites, data centres, and public digital infrastructure; advocating for digital governance that balances innovation, security, and citizen protection; and building capacity among African regulators and states through knowledge sharing, research, and innovation.
“By supporting the DRC’s candidacy, you are not just choosing an Africa that adapts to digital change—you are choosing one that helps shape it. An Africa that invests, innovates, nurtures talent, and builds a responsible digital future,” he asserted.
Katende also underscored the DRC’s role in the global tech value chain, citing its critical minerals essential for semiconductors and AI infrastructure. “The DRC has every right to sit at the table where the rules for this technological revolution are written,” he said.
Noëlla Ayeganagato, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the bid. Addressing the diplomats, she stressed the importance of UIT as a strategic partner in achieving sustainable development goals. “We call on potential voting states to champion this candidacy, ensuring commitments are upheld and diplomatic efforts—both bilateral and multilateral—are fully leveraged,” she urged.
The DRC’s formal candidacy will be submitted during the November 2026 conference in Doha.