Brazzaville Hosts National Debate on AI Regulation
Congo-Brazzaville launched a national consultation on Monday focused on regulating artificial intelligence, bringing together public institutions, private sector actors, and international digital experts in Brazzaville. The meeting was organized by the Regulatory Agency for Posts and Electronic Communications.
The consultation is scheduled to run until Friday, January 16, 2026. Organizers state the goal is to lay the groundwork for a regulatory approach that matches current technological realities while keeping pace with the country’s ambitions in the digital economy.
Citizen Protection and Responsible Innovation on the Agenda
According to the organizers, discussions revolve around several priorities affecting daily life in an increasingly connected society. These include protecting citizens in the digital space, promoting responsible innovation, and clarifying how data and AI should be governed in the national context.
Participants are also examining the development of a digital finance system that is both secure and inclusive. In practice, this involves a focus on trust, consumer safeguards, and the integrity of emerging services, as the country seeks to ensure that innovation expands opportunities while limiting harmful uses.
Regulatory Agency Warns Technology is Evolving Faster than Regulation
Speaking at the opening, the Director General of the regulatory agency presented the consultation as a timely response to rapid change. “Technologies are evolving faster than our ability to regulate them,” he stated, asserting that institutions and businesses must coordinate more closely to avoid regulatory gaps.
He framed AI regulation as part of a broader set of shared challenges. He cited artificial intelligence alongside blockchain, crypto-assets, and satellite technologies, emphasizing that the issues raised by these tools cut across sectors and demand a collective response rather than fragmented decision-making.
Government Signals Strategic Vision for Data and AI
The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy told participants that digital data and artificial intelligence have become major strategic resources for nations. He called for a policy response that is, in his words, “clear-sighted, coherent, and responsible,” reflecting economic, social, and ethical stakes.
His remarks placed the consultation within a broader governance approach that recognizes both opportunities and risks. His message suggested the government seeks to provide clarity for innovators and investors, while establishing protections that build public trust in digital services.
National AI Strategy in Development with UNDP Partner
The minister also announced that a national artificial intelligence strategy is currently being developed. He said the work is being carried out in partnership with the African Center for Research in Artificial Intelligence and the United Nations Development Programme.
The stated objective is to equip Congo-Brazzaville with a clear framework suited to its own context. For participants, this framework signals an effort to align regulation with national priorities, while drawing on internationally recognized technical expertise and development support.
Towards a Smart, Inclusive, and Sovereign Digital Framework
Organizers assert that the week’s work should contribute to producing a shared vision and practical guidance for what they describe as smart, inclusive, and sovereign digital regulation. The ambition is to move from general principles to applicable guidance that can steer both institutions and market players.
As the consultation continues throughout the week, the focus remains on building common ground among stakeholders. The expectation, according to the initiators, is that the process can help Congo-Brazzaville respond to rapid technological change with rules that encourage innovation while protecting users.