DRC Launches RDC-PASS, a National Digital ID System
June 15th 2026
- The DRC is launching RDC-PASS, a national digital identity system designed to simplify access to government, financial and social services
- The $97 million project will provide citizens with a single digital identifier for authentication, e-government services and financial verification
- While authorities see digital identity as a cornerstone of the country’s digital transformation, questions remain over data sovereignty and the role of a foreign company managing the system
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to launch RDC-PASS, its national digital identification system, on Saturday, June 13, in Kinshasa.
Presented as a unique, secure and free digital identifier, the project will be unveiled with the support of President Félix Tshisekedi as part of the country’s “DRC 2030 Digital Nation” strategy.
The system is designed to provide every citizen with an interoperable digital identity that can be used across government, financial and social services. The goal is to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, curb document fraud and improve access to public services in a country where identification systems remain fragmented and inaccessible to many citizens.
A strategic project estimated at $97.1 million
RDC-PASS is being developed through an estimated $97.1 million investment, according to the Ministry of Planning.
The project stems from a public-private partnership signed in June 2025 between the Congolese government and Trident Digital Tech DRC Africa SAS, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Trident Digital Tech Holdings.
The 20-year agreement grants the company exclusive responsibility for providing electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) services based on Web 3.0 technologies and advanced digital verification mechanisms.
Trident Digital Tech Holdings has also said it raised $2.6 million to support the initial phases of deployment and bring the system to market in the DRC.
Several African countries have already launched similar large-scale initiatives. Nigeria, through its National Identification Number (NIN) system, has enrolled tens of millions of citizens, while Kenya has built its digital identity ecosystem around integrated e-government services.
RDC-PASS is built around four main functions. It will enable biometric SIM card authentication to help combat fraud, provide unified access to e-government platforms through a single identifier, integrate an automated e-KYC system for financial services, and support the issuance of a secure digital identity alongside physical identity documents.
Under the system, the digital identifier serves as a single gateway to public and private services, enabling interoperability among government agencies, telecommunications operators and financial institutions.
A phased rollout and digital sovereignty concerns
According to the authorities, the system will be rolled out in phases, beginning with technical audits, pilot programs and a gradual expansion following the official launch.
However, the challenges extend beyond technical considerations. Concerns about data sovereignty, data storage and the management of citizens’ information by a foreign private company over a 20-year period remain at the center of debate surrounding the project.
RDC-PASS forms part of a broader government initiative valued at $1 billion to support digital development between 2026 and 2030.
Within that framework, digital identity is viewed as a core piece of digital infrastructure, alongside connectivity and e-government platforms. Its success, however, will depend on its ability to achieve widespread adoption and integrate seamlessly across the country’s public and private services.
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