Africa AI Governance Index 2026 · Country profile on AI governance

Country Profile on AI Governance: Republic of the Congo

Republic of the Congo scores 1.75 out of 4 on the Africa AI Governance Index 2026. It sits in the Emerging tier and ranks 18 of 54 states.

Region
Central Africa
Version
1.2 · 7 October 2026
Evidence reference date
30 June 2026
Overview

Republic of the Congo at a glance

How to read this profile

The Index is diagnostic. It measures formal governance instruments, not capability. Composite differences under about 0.1 are not meaningful.

Country

Population (2024)
6.3 million
Region
Central Africa
Regional economic communities
Economic Community of Central African States
Geography
Coastal, 2 international submarine cable systems in service

Governance status

  • National AI strategy S1.1

    2 / 4

  • Data protection law G2.2

    3 / 4

  • AI regulatory body G2.5

    2 / 4

  • Malabo Convention ratification G2.7

    4 / 4

  • Kigali Declaration endorsement R7.2

    3 / 4

Scores are indicator scores on the 0–4 key in the method section, not maturity tiers.

Headline assessment

Republic of the Congo scores 1.75 out of 4 on the Africa AI Governance Index 2026. It sits in the Emerging tier and ranks 18 of 54 states. The score rests on 79 of 80 indicators scored from the fellow country profile. The strongest pillar is Infrastructure & Data (2.22). The weakest is Implementation & Impact (1.00). The Central Africa mean is 1.07. The mean for all 54 states is 1.33.

Strongest pillar
Infrastructure & Data2.22 / 4Developing
Weakest pillar
Implementation & Impact1.00 / 4Emerging

Indicators scored: 79 / 80

Pillar scores

Pillar scores at a glance

Each pillar is scored from 0 to 4 as the mean of its scored indicators.

Bar chart of Republic of the Congo's eight pillar scores out of 4, compared with the Central Africa mean and the mean of all 54 states. The same figures are listed beside each bar and in the table below.
  • Republic of the Congo score
  • Central Africa mean
  • All 54 states mean
  1. P1Strategy & Vision
    1.80Emerging

    Central Africa: 1.40
    All 54 states: 1.76

  2. P2Governance & Regulation
    1.90Emerging

    Central Africa: 1.31
    All 54 states: 1.32

  3. P3Infrastructure & Data
    2.22Developing

    Central Africa: 1.20
    All 54 states: 1.51

  4. P4Human Capital
    1.60Emerging

    Central Africa: 0.69
    All 54 states: 1.20

  5. P5Innovation & Ecosystem
    1.50Emerging

    Central Africa: 0.67
    All 54 states: 1.05

  6. P6Ethics & Inclusion
    1.80Emerging

    Central Africa: 1.16
    All 54 states: 1.26

  7. P7Regional Integration
    1.90Emerging

    Central Africa: 1.34
    All 54 states: 1.55

  8. P8Implementation & Impact
    1.00Emerging

    Central Africa: 0.60
    All 54 states: 0.78

  9. Composite (weighted)
    1.75Emerging

    Central Africa: 1.07
    All 54 states: 1.33

View the pillar scores as a table
Republic of the Congo pillar scores on the Africa AI Governance Index 2026
PillarBasisWeightScore (0–4)MaturityCentral Africa meanAfrica mean
P1 Strategy & VisionMean of 10/10 indicators15%1.80Emerging1.401.76
P2 Governance & RegulationMean of 10/10 indicators15%1.90Emerging1.311.32
P3 Infrastructure & DataMean of 9/10 indicators15%2.22Developing1.201.51
P4 Human CapitalMean of 10/10 indicators15%1.60Emerging0.691.20
P5 Innovation & EcosystemMean of 10/10 indicators10%1.50Emerging0.671.05
P6 Ethics & InclusionMean of 10/10 indicators10%1.80Emerging1.161.26
P7 Regional IntegrationMean of 10/10 indicators10%1.90Emerging1.341.55
P8 Implementation & ImpactMean of 10/10 indicators10%1.00Emerging0.600.78
Composite (weighted)—100%1.75Emerging1.071.33
Country report

What the scores say about Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo scores 1.75 out of 4 on the Africa AI Governance Index 2026, in the Emerging tier, and ranks 18 of 54. Fellows scored 79 of 80 indicators. The strongest pillar is Infrastructure & Data at 2.22 and the weakest is Implementation & Impact at 1.00. The composite is above the Central Africa mean of 1.07 and the Africa mean of 1.33. The evidence explains the profile through a 2019 data protection law, ratification of the Malabo Convention in 2020, state-built data centres and the African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, opened in February 2022. No standalone AI strategy or AI law has been adopted, and sector rules for AI are absent.

P1Strategy & Vision1.80 / 4Emerging

Strategy & Vision scores 1.80, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. Political commitment scores 3: the President activated the 2Africa cable connection in Pointe-Noire on 28 February 2024 and commissioned a new data centre (S1.3). Alignment with the African Union Continental AI Strategy also scores 3, resting on Malabo Convention ratification and laws modelled on ECCAS standards (S1.5). The Congo Digital 2025 national digital strategy is adopted, and the regulator ARPCE held a seminar in January 2026 to develop an AI regulatory roadmap (S1.1, score 2). No AI-specific monitoring framework or review mechanism exists (S1.9, S1.10, score 1 each). No standalone AI strategy has been adopted (S1.2, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Strategy & Vision

P2Governance & Regulation1.90 / 4Emerging

Governance & Regulation scores 1.90, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. The country ratified the Malabo Convention on 24 September 2020 and deposited its instrument on 23 October 2020 (G2.7, score 4). Law No. 29-2019 on Personal Data Protection was enacted in 2019, and the law on the National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data was published in the Official Gazette in March/April 2025 (G2.2, score 3). The commission has no explicit AI oversight mandate (G2.3, score 2). The commission's staff count and budget are not published (G2.4, score 1). No AI-specific legislation is enacted (G2.1, score 1), and no review of intellectual property law for AI was identified (G2.10, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Governance & Regulation

P3Infrastructure & Data2.22 / 4Developing

Infrastructure & Data scores 2.22, in the Developing tier, with 9 of 10 indicators scored. The evidence confirms three data centres: an ARPCE facility in Brazzaville built in 2021, an ARPCE facility in Pointe-Noire with 54 racks commissioned on 28 February 2024, and a USD 72.8 million Tier III sovereign centre under construction in Bacongo, Brazzaville (I3.1, score 2; I3.10, score 3). Capacity in MW is not published (I3.2, score 2). 2 submarine cable systems land in the country (I3.3, score 2). Law 29-2019 and the Malabo Convention govern cross-border transfers (I3.8, score 3). No hyperscaler has local infrastructure (I3.5, score 1). Foreign AI surveillance spending is a context flag and is not scored; none is documented (I3.9).

See the 10 indicators for Infrastructure & Data

P4Human Capital1.60 / 4Emerging

Human Capital scores 1.60, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. Language coverage scores 4, but the score is retained and under second-edition review, because the evidence describes coverage of Lingala and Kituba as limited (H4.10). Publications score 3 on a basis of 32.0 papers a year, or 5.05 per million people (H4.4). The African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Denis Sassou-Nguesso University runs an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (H4.1, score 2; H4.3, score 1). No formal labour transition policy exists (H4.8, score 1). No AI patents were identified (H4.5, score 0), and government has not assessed AI's effect on the informal economy (H4.9, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Human Capital

P5Innovation & Ecosystem1.50 / 4Emerging

Innovation & Ecosystem scores 1.50, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. University and industry partnerships score 3: the African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence is a formal partnership between UNECA, the government and Denis Sassou-Nguesso University (N5.10). The evidence describes a small technology ecosystem in Brazzaville and a government partnership with Presight AI (N5.1, N5.5, score 2 each). Private AI investment is not separately quantified (N5.2, score 2). No private AI-specific accelerator is confirmed (N5.3, score 1). No AI regulatory sandbox exists (N5.4, score 1), and no dedicated AI safety testing laboratory exists (N5.6, score 1). ISO/IEC 42001 adoption is not confirmed (N5.7, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Innovation & Ecosystem

P6Ethics & Inclusion1.80 / 4Emerging

Ethics & Inclusion scores 1.80, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. Global AI governance participation scores 3, on the strength of the UNECA partnership behind the African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence and membership of Smart Africa (E6.7). Law 29-2019 provides data subject rights and transparency obligations (E6.3, score 2). The National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data offers a complaint route, with no dedicated AI complaint channel (E6.4, score 2). 80 judicial actors received training on AI and the rule of law in Brazzaville in November 2023 (E6.5, score 2). No standalone algorithmic impact assessment requirement exists (E6.1, score 1). The evidence finds no bias audit requirements (E6.2, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Ethics & Inclusion

P7Regional Integration1.90 / 4Emerging

Regional Integration scores 1.90, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. Four indicators score 3: African Union AI Strategy alignment (R7.1), endorsement of the Africa Declaration on AI signed in Kigali in April 2025 (R7.2), regional coordination through ECCAS and Smart Africa (R7.3), and cross-border agreements, including an August 2025 spectrum agreement with Angola (R7.4). No delegation to the July 2026 United Nations AI dialogue is confirmed (R7.9, score 2). The cybercrime law, Law 27-2020, gives a partial basis against disinformation (R7.6, score 1). The country has no AI provisions for elections, and the presidential election of March 2026 took place under a nationwide internet blackout (R7.5, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Regional Integration

P8Implementation & Impact1.00 / 4Emerging

Implementation & Impact scores 1.00, in the Emerging tier, with 10 of 10 indicators scored. Budget disbursement scores 2: the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project built 76 rural connectivity sites and installed 300 Wi-Fi access points, but the AI governance share is not separated (M8.1). Education AI governance and measurable outcomes also score 2, resting on running programmes, not on a formal policy (M8.8, M8.9). No health AI regulation is enacted (M8.2, score 1). No formal framework governs AI in agriculture or financial services (M8.6, M8.7, score 1 each). The country has no approval route for health AI devices (M8.3, score 0), no registry of government AI systems (M8.4, score 0) and no AI governance monitoring reports (M8.5, score 0).

See the 10 indicators for Implementation & Impact

Indicator evidence

Evidence by pillar

Evidence and score for each of the 80 indicators, with sources. Scores use the 0–4 indicator score key in the method section, which is a different scale from the maturity tiers. “Not scored” means nothing could be determined, or a score had no supporting evidence: the indicator is left out of the pillar mean rather than counted as 0. “N/A” and “Context only” sit outside the score.

P1 · Weight 15% of composite

Strategy & Vision

1.80 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 1.40 · all 54 states mean 1.76.

  1. S1.1

    National AI strategy existence

    Score 2 / 4

    Congo Digital 2025 national digital strategy adopted with three pillars: e-citizen, e-government, e-business; €136.5 million Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PATN) launched June 2023 by EU, EIB, and World Bank; ARPCE hosted digital regulation and AI governance seminar January 2026 specifically to develop an AI regulatory roadmap; National Development Plan 2022-2026 adopted January 2022; ECA National Data Governance Strategy consultations June 2-9 2026 in Brazzaville; no standalone AI strategy adopted but AI governance process formally initiated

    Note: Congo Digital 2025 is the primary digital strategy; AI governance process formally initiated via ARPCE seminar January 2026; ECA data governance consultations June 2026; no standalone AI strategy adopted; scored 2 as developing

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. S1.2

    Strategy adoption date

    Score 0 / 4

    No standalone national AI strategy has been adopted; Congo Digital 2025 digital strategy does not constitute an AI strategy; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) aimed at developing a roadmap; AI strategy development in process

    Note: AI strategy development initiated; not yet adopted; scored 0

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: none (adoption date). No formally adopted national AI strategy.

  3. S1.3

    Political commitment signals

    Score 3 / 4

    President Denis Sassou N'Guesso personally activated the 2Africa cable connection in Pointe-Noire (February 28 2024) and commissioned the new ARPCE data centre; Minister of Posts and Digital Economy Léon Juste Ibombo led UNESCO AI training for judiciary (November 2023); ARPCE AI governance seminar (January 2026) conducted at government initiative; National Development Plan 2022-2026 adopted by cabinet; ECA partnership for data governance strategy (June 2026) at government invitation

    Note: Presidential-level engagement on digital infrastructure; ministerial AI governance commitment; scored 3 as established, formal institutional actions documented

    Sources datacenterdynamics.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. S1.4

    Dedicated AI budget allocation

    Score 2 / 4

    €136.5 million PATN (Digital Transformation Acceleration Project by EU/EIB/World Bank), €100M from World Bank; USD 72.8 million national data centre (Bacongo, Brazzaville, construction completion December 2025); ARPCE Pointe-Noire data centre (FCFA 3.8 billion, USD 6.3M, commissioned February 2024); 76 rural connectivity sites built through PATN; significant multi-channel investment confirmed

    Note: Significant confirmed investment via PATN and data centre construction; AI-specific budget not disaggregated; scored 2 as developing

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  5. S1.5

    AU Continental AI Strategy alignment

    Score 3 / 4

    Malabo Convention ratified, Republic of Congo ('Congo') is among the original 16 ratifiers (Wikipedia lists 'Congo' in ratifiers list; AU official status list row 13: Congo, ratification 24/09/2020, deposited 23/10/2020); cybersecurity laws (Law 26-2020, Law 27-2020) explicitly modelled on ECCAS standards; Congo Digital 2025 aligned with ECCAS digital frameworks; ECA partnership for data governance strategy June 2026

    Note: Strong AU alignment: Malabo ratified 2020; ECCAS-modelled laws; ECA data governance partnership; scored 3

    Sources au.int (opens in a new tab)

  6. S1.6

    Multi-stakeholder consultation

    Score 2 / 4

    ARPCE AI governance seminar (January 2026) brought together international experts, public institutions, operators, and private sector; PATN development included multi-stakeholder consultations; ECA National Data Governance consultations (June 2-9 2026) include public institutions, regulators, telecom operators, financial institutions, universities, and digital economy actors; UNESCO judiciary AI training included diverse stakeholders

    Note: Multiple formal multi-stakeholder consultation processes documented; permanent mechanism not institutionalised; scored 2

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  7. S1.7

    Sector prioritisation

    Score 2 / 4

    Congo Digital 2025 identifies e-citizen, e-government, e-business as priority sectors; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) targeted digital finance and blockchain as priority areas; ARCAI research focuses on agriculture, health, industry, and environment; no formal AI-specific sector roadmaps published

    Note: Sector priorities identified through Congo Digital 2025 and ARPCE; AI sector roadmaps developing; scored 2

    Sources coe.int (opens in a new tab)

  8. S1.8

    Implementation roadmap

    Score 2 / 4

    Congo Digital 2025 had phased implementation; PATN provides implementation milestones through its project cycle; National Development Plan 2022-2026 provides general roadmap; ARPCE AI seminar aimed at a 'comprehensive roadmap'; ECA data governance strategy (June 2026) will produce a formal roadmap

    Note: Multiple roadmap processes active; AI-specific phased implementation in development; scored 2

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  9. S1.9

    Monitoring and evaluation framework

    Score 1 / 4

    No AI-specific M&E framework published; PATN has World Bank M&E framework; ARPCE plays regulatory monitoring role; ECA data governance assessment (June 2026) will establish a monitoring baseline; no active AI governance reporting cycle

    Note: Digital governance M&E through PATN and ECA; AI-specific M&E not yet established; scored 1

  10. S1.10

    Strategy review mechanism

    Score 1 / 4

    Congo Digital 2025 had review provisions; ARPCE has ongoing regulatory review function; ECA data governance strategy will include review mechanisms; no formal AI strategy review mechanism gazetted

    Note: Review function through ARPCE and ECA partnership; no adaptive AI governance mechanism; scored 1

P2 · Weight 15% of composite

Governance & Regulation

1.90 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 1.31 · all 54 states mean 1.32.

  1. G2.1

    AI-specific legislation

    Score 1 / 4

    No AI-specific legislation enacted; ARPCE AI governance seminar (January 2026) explicitly aims to develop AI regulatory framework; Congo Digital 2025 called for updating laws on cybercrime, data protection, and electronic transactions; cybercrime and cybersecurity laws enacted (Laws 27-2020 and 26-2020); AI law under active development

    Note: AI regulatory framework under active development via ARPCE; not yet a law; scored 1 as nascent

    Sources techafricanews.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. G2.2

    Data protection law status

    Score 3 / 4

    Law No. 29-2019 on Personal Data Protection enacted 2019; National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (CNPD) law published in Official Gazette March/April 2025 (confirmed by TechHive Advisory bimonthly update March-April 2025); CNPD established as DPA; cybercrime law (27-2020) and cybersecurity law (26-2020) enacted; comprehensive digital governance legal framework in place

    Note: Data protection law 2019; CNPD gazetted March/April 2025; cybercrime + cybersecurity laws 2020; scored 3 as established legal framework with operational DPA

    Sources techhiveadvisory.africa (opens in a new tab)

  3. G2.3

    DPA AI mandate

    Score 2 / 4

    CNPD (Commission Nationale de Protection des Données) established March 2025 as the data protection authority; mandate covers data processing oversight including automated decisions; video surveillance framework under CNPD review; no explicit AI oversight mandate but ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) directly addressed AI governance in CNPD's context

    Note: CNPD established March 2025 with data protection oversight; AI-related mandate through automated processing; ARPCE AI seminar positioned CNPD for AI governance; scored 2

    Sources techhiveadvisory.africa (opens in a new tab)

  4. G2.4

    DPA staffing and budget

    Score 1 / 4

    CNPD gazetted March 2025, newly established; specific staff count and budget not published; no AI-specific competency data available; ARPCE has technical staff for regulatory oversight

    Note: CNPD too recently established for staff/budget data; scored 1 as nascent

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

  5. G2.5

    AI regulatory body existence

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI (African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence) established February 2022 at Denis Sassou-Nguesso University, Africa's first dedicated AI research centre, operational; ANSSI (Agence Nationale pour la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information) established per Law 30-2019; ARPCE (established 2009, well-resourced) serves as de facto AI governance coordinator; no standalone AI regulatory body but ARPCE leads AI governance

    Note: ARCAI = Africa's first AI research centre (operational); ARPCE leading AI governance; ANSSI for cybersecurity; scored 2 as developing, AI-relevant institutions active

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  6. G2.6

    Institutional design model

    Score 2 / 4

    Emerging multi-body model: CNPD for data protection; ARPCE for telecoms/digital regulation and AI governance coordination; ANSSI for cybersecurity; ARCAI for AI research; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) demonstrated coordinated AI governance approach

    Note: Multi-body coordination documented; ARPCE as AI governance hub; scored 2

    Sources techafricanews.com (opens in a new tab)

  7. G2.7

    Malabo Convention ratification

    Score 4 / 4

    Republic of the Congo is among the 16 original Malabo Convention ratifiers; AU official status list (row 13): Congo ratified 24 September 2020, deposited 23 October 2020; full Malabo obligations active; one of the strongest governance signals in Central Africa

    Note: ADVANCED, Full Malabo ratification confirmed (ratified September 2020, deposited October 2020); scored 4

    Sources au.int (opens in a new tab)

  8. G2.8

    Enforcement actions taken

    Score 2 / 4

    CNPD established March 2025 with enforcement mandate; cybercrime law (27-2020) and cybersecurity law (26-2020) enacted and operative; ARPCE has active enforcement capacity in telecom sector; no AI-specific enforcement actions documented; cybercrime enforcement capacity confirmed

    Note: Cybercrime enforcement operational; CNPD enforcement developing; no AI-specific enforcement; scored 2

    Sources coe.int (opens in a new tab)

  9. G2.9

    Extraterritorial provisions

    Score 2 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 applies to processing within Republic of Congo; cybercrime laws (2020) address cross-border digital offences; Malabo Convention ratification provides regional multilateral framework; CNPD has cross-border transfer oversight authority

    Note: Developing cross-border framework; Malabo ratification provides multilateral basis; cybercrime cooperation confirmed; scored 2

    Sources coe.int (opens in a new tab)

  10. G2.10

    IP framework for AI

    Score 0 / 4

    No AI IP legislation review identified; OAPI covers Republic of Congo for intellectual property; no AI IP amendment process confirmed

    Note: Scored 0

P3 · Weight 15% of composite

Infrastructure & Data

2.22 / 4Developing

Mean of the 9 scored indicators; 1 carries no score. Central Africa mean 1.20 · all 54 states mean 1.51.

No score: 1 context only.

  1. I3.1

    Data center count

    Score 2 / 4

    Three confirmed data centres: (1) ARPCE Brazzaville DC (built 2021); (2) ARPCE Pointe-Noire DC (FCFA 3.8 billion, commissioned February 28 2024 by President Sassou N'Guesso alongside 2Africa cable activation, 54 racks, 156 sqm); (3) USD 72.8 million sovereign data centre under construction in Bacongo, Brazzaville (Tier III, completion December 2025, described as 'first of its kind in Central Africa'); African Development Bank supporting the USD 72.8M facility

    Note: Three confirmed data centres including two ARPCE sovereign facilities and a major USD 72.8M Tier III under construction; scored 3 as established, operational facilities with major expansion

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 2 (data centres).

    Sources datacenterdynamics.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. I3.2

    Data center capacity (MW)

    Score 2 / 4

    ARPCE Pointe-Noire DC: 54 racks confirmed; USD 72.8 million Bacongo DC planned as Tier III with Tier IV evolution potential; total DC capacity growing significantly; specific MW not published but Tier III designation implies 1-5+ MW range; ARPCE Brazzaville DC operational since 2021

    Note: Tier III standard confirmed for major DC; multiple facilities confirmed; MW not published; scored 2 as developing, confirmed Tier capacity

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources en.innovando.news (opens in a new tab)

  3. I3.3

    Submarine cable landing points

    Score 2 / 4

    2Africa submarine cable connection activated February 28 2024 at Pointe-Noire (President Sassou N'Guesso inaugurated); SAT-3/WASC cable also lands in Republic of Congo; Central African Backbone (CAB5) fibre extends inland connectivity; at least 2 confirmed direct submarine cable landing points (2Africa and SAT-3) plus CAB5 regional connectivity

    Note: 2Africa (activated Feb 2024) + SAT-3/WASC confirmed submarine cable landings; CAB5 regional fibre; scored 3 as established connectivity with recent major upgrade

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. 2 cable systems (TeleGeography, accessed 2026-10-06).

    Sources datacenterdynamics.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. I3.4

    International bandwidth (Gbps)

    Score 3 / 4

    Internet penetration 36.2% (2.24 million users) as reported in 2024 baseline; PATN target of 62.48% penetration by end 2024; 76 rural connectivity sites built through PATN (World Bank confirmed October 2025); 4G coverage targeted at 100% by 2024; 5G launched; 300 Wi-Fi access points installed in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville by August 2024; Angola-RoC ARPCE/INACOM spectrum cooperation agreement August 2025

    Note: 36%+ internet penetration with aggressive expansion targets; 5G launched; 76 rural sites built; strong trajectory; scored 3 as established and expanding

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  5. I3.5

    Hyperscaler presence

    Score 1 / 4

    No confirmed AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or other hyperscaler local infrastructure in Republic of Congo; USD 72.8M sovereign DC positioned as regional reference point aiming to attract hyperscaler-adjacent services; no hyperscaler commitment confirmed

    Note: Sovereign DC ambition to become regional hub; no hyperscaler commitment; scored 1

  6. I3.6

    GPU/HPC access

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI at Denis Sassou-Nguesso University equipped with HPC resources, e-learning platform for 10,000 simultaneous students, high-performance computing for AI research; no national HPC facility separate from ARCAI but ARCAI constitutes Africa's most significant academic AI computing resource; USD 72.8M DC will include AI-capable infrastructure

    Note: ARCAI HPC/academic AI compute confirmed; national Tier III DC adding capacity; scored 2 as developing, ARCAI provides meaningful academic AI computing

    Sources actuia.com (opens in a new tab)

  7. I3.7

    Data localisation provisions

    Score 2 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 includes cross-border transfer provisions; CNPD has oversight authority for transfers; Malabo Convention ratification (2020) reinforces data localisation obligations; ARPCE data centres explicitly positioned for 'sovereign data' hosting reducing dependency on foreign infrastructure

    Note: Data law + Malabo + ARPCE sovereign positioning constitute a developing localisation framework; scored 2

    Sources datacenterdynamics.com (opens in a new tab)

  8. I3.8

    Cross-border data flow framework

    Score 3 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 governs cross-border transfers; Malabo Convention ratification (2020) provides multilateral cross-border framework; cybercrime laws (2020) include international cooperation provisions modelled on ECCAS standards; ECA data governance strategy (June 2026) will strengthen cross-border framework

    Note: Malabo + data law + cybercrime cooperation + ECA strategy = established multilateral cross-border framework; scored 3

    Sources au.int (opens in a new tab)

  9. I3.9

    Foreign AI surveillance spending

    Context only: Context flag outside the score

    No documented government spending on foreign AI surveillance systems; internet blackout during March 2026 elections (Wikipedia) documents government control of internet access but no AI surveillance procurement confirmed

    Note: Internet shutdown during elections documented; no AI surveillance procurement evidence; scored 0

    Scoring basis Context flag; outside the score. Raw value read from the evidence: "No documented government spending on foreign AI surveillance systems".

  10. I3.10

    Sovereign cloud initiatives

    Score 3 / 4

    USD 72.8M sovereign data centre under construction (Bacongo, Brazzaville, Tier III, completion December 2025); ARPCE Pointe-Noire DC (commissioned February 2024) explicitly described as solving 'sovereign data' problem; Brazzaville DC (2021) already operational; ARPCE director Louis-Marc Sakala explicitly stated sovereign data mission; multiple confirmed sovereign cloud/hosting facilities

    Note: Multiple operational sovereign data facilities; USD 72.8M Tier III under construction; presidential endorsement; scored 3 as established

    Sources en.innovando.news (opens in a new tab)

P4 · Weight 15% of composite

Human Capital

1.60 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 0.69 · all 54 states mean 1.20.

  1. H4.1

    AI researchers per million

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI (African Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, February 2022) at Denis Sassou-Nguesso University hosts Africa's largest dedicated AI research community; MSc programme in AI and data science operational; ARCAI focuses on agriculture, health, industry, environment research; partnership with Jack Ma Foundation, UNESCO, ITU, UNIDO; active AI research community in Brazzaville

    Note: ARCAI constitutes the largest dedicated AI research community in Central Africa; MSc programme producing graduates; scored 2 as developing, meaningful AI researcher base through ARCAI

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  2. H4.2

    DPA staff with AI competency

    Score 1 / 4

    CNPD established March 2025; newly established with limited published staffing data; ARPCE has technical staff with digital regulation expertise relevant to AI governance; no AI-specific competency data for CNPD published

    Note: CNPD recently established; ARPCE has relevant technical expertise; scored 1

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

  3. H4.3

    University AI programs

    Score 1 / 4

    ARCAI at Denis Sassou-Nguesso University (Kintélé) offers MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Africa's first dedicated AI university programme at this level; LMD (Bachelor-Master-Doctorate) curriculum being developed; e-learning platform for 10,000 simultaneous students; University of Brazzaville and Marien Ngouabi University also have technology programmes

    Note: ADVANCED for the region, ARCAI MSc in AI operational; Africa's first dedicated AI university programme; e-learning for 10,000 students; scored 3

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 1 (universities).

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  4. H4.4

    African-authored AI publications

    Score 3 / 4

    ARCAI produces active AI research output; ECA-published research through ARCAI; research focuses on agriculture, health, industry, environment; Smart Africa Digital Academy partnerships; Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce training centre for cybersecurity opened August 2024; no annual publication count available but ARCAI output growing

    Note: ARCAI active research; Africa-first dedicated AI research institution; growing output; scored 2

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. 32.0 papers/yr ÷ 6.33m people = 5.05 per million (floors applied).

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  5. H4.5

    AI patents filed

    Score 0 / 4

    No AI-related patents filed by Republic of Congo-affiliated inventors identified; OAPI covers Republic of Congo for IP

    Note: ARCAI research active but no patent output documented; scored 0

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 0 (AI patent applications/year). Raw value read from the evidence: "No AI-related patents filed by Republic of Congo-affiliated inventors identified". Checked against the evidence on 7 October 2026: confirmed.

  6. H4.6

    K-12 CS education

    Score 2 / 4

    Congo Digital 2025 includes digital literacy as a strategic goal; Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce digital skills training centre opened August 2024 (PATN-funded); 300 Wi-Fi access points in schools and public spaces; cybersecurity training room opened; no confirmed mandatory K-12 AI curriculum

    Note: Digital skills programme operational through PATN; Chamber training centre confirmed; no mandatory AI curriculum; scored 2

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  7. H4.7

    AI workforce training programs

    Score 2 / 4

    Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce digital training centre (PATN-funded, August 2024); ARCAI MSc and online training for 10,000 students; Smart Africa Digital Academy; UNESCO judiciary AI training (80 judicial actors, November 2023); no government-scale mandatory AI reskilling programme

    Note: Multiple active training programmes; ARCAI is most significant; scored 2

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  8. H4.8

    Labour transition policy

    Score 1 / 4

    No formal AI-labour transition policy; Congo Digital 2025 addresses employment and digital economy; no standalone assessment commissioned

    Note: Under discussion; scored 1

  9. H4.9

    Informal economy AI assessment

    Score 0 / 4

    No government assessment of AI's impact on the informal economy

    Note: Scored 0

  10. H4.10

    African language NLP coverage

    Score 4 / 4

    French is the official language, strong NLP coverage through global models; Lingala and Kituba (national languages with millions of speakers) have limited but growing NLP coverage; no confirmed domestic LLM but ARCAI research could address local languages; ARCAI curriculum being designed for African context

    Note: French official language coverage strong; Lingala/Kituba have some regional NLP; ARCAI positioned for African language AI; scored 2

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 2 of 2 (languages supported / major languages), normalised 100. 100% of major domestic languages. Raw value read from the evidence: "Lingala and Kituba (national languages with millions of speakers) have limited but growing NLP coverage" [denominator (my own knowledge of major languages, not. Listed for second-edition review: The count of 2 of 2 gives the top score, but the evidence describes coverage of Lingala and Kituba as limited. Kituba is not on the reference list in the Thresholds sheet.

P5 · Weight 10% of composite

Innovation & Ecosystem

1.50 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 0.67 · all 54 states mean 1.05.

  1. N5.1

    AI companies count

    Score 2 / 4

    Growing tech ecosystem in Brazzaville; Presight AI (G42/UAE) government partnership documented; Congo Digital 2025 created enabling environment for digital businesses; IT services sector growing; mobile money (MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money) as most advanced digital commercial deployment; ARCAI hosts AI startups and innovators

    Note: Small but developing tech ecosystem; ARCAI as innovation hub; Congo Digital 2025 creating enabling environment; scored 2

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. N5.2

    Private AI investment (USD)

    Score 2 / 4

    PATN (€136.5M EU/EIB/World Bank); USD 72.8M data centre (African Development Bank); ARPCE data centres; Presight/G42 government partnership; significant multi-channel investment confirmed; private AI investment not separately quantified

    Note: Significant DFI and government investment; private AI component not disaggregated; scored 2

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  3. N5.3

    AI incubators/accelerators

    Score 1 / 4

    ARCAI serves as Africa's first dedicated AI innovation centre and incubator for AI talent; Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce digital skills centre (August 2024); Smart Africa Digital Academy; no private AI-specific accelerator confirmed but ARCAI fills this function

    Note: ARCAI is Africa's first AI innovation hub, unique regional asset; Chamber training centre; scored 2

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 1 (incubators/accelerators).

    Sources actuia.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. N5.4

    Regulatory sandbox (AI)

    Score 1 / 4

    No dedicated AI regulatory sandbox; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) discussed regulatory approaches; no fintech sandbox despite growing mobile money; ARPCE is developing regulatory flexibility

    Note: Sandbox concept under discussion through ARPCE; scored 1

  5. N5.5

    Government AI procurement

    Score 2 / 4

    Government actively procuring Presight/G42 AI partnership; PATN implementation involves government digital procurement; ARPCE data centre construction is government procurement; 76 rural connectivity sites government-procured through PATN; formal government digital procurement at scale confirmed

    Note: Significant government procurement confirmed; scored 2

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  6. N5.6

    AI safety evaluation capacity

    Score 1 / 4

    ARCAI provides academic AI evaluation capacity; no dedicated AI safety testing laboratory; ANSSI has cybersecurity mandate; no formal AI safety evaluation mechanism

    Note: ARCAI provides partial AI evaluation; scored 1

  7. N5.7

    ISO/IEC 42001 adoption

    Score 0 / 4

    No confirmed ISO/IEC 42001 adoption; national standards body exists; no AI technical committee

    Note: Scored 0

  8. N5.8

    Standards body AI competency

    Score 1 / 4

    National standards body (ANSC) exists; no confirmed AI-specific technical committee; ARPCE engages with ITU standards processes; scored 1

    Note: Standards body exists; no AI committee; scored 1

  9. N5.9

    AI risk assessment frameworks

    Score 2 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 requires authorisation for sensitive data processing; CNPD established with oversight mandate; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) targeted risk framework development; cybersecurity law (26-2020) includes risk provisions; ARCAI conducts AI ethics/risk research

    Note: Multiple risk governance instruments; ARPCE actively developing AI risk framework; scored 2

    Sources techafricanews.com (opens in a new tab)

  10. N5.10

    University-industry AI partnerships

    Score 3 / 4

    ARCAI (UNECA + Government + Denis Sassou-Nguesso University) is a formal trilateral partnership; Smart Africa partnership; Presight AI (G42/UAE) government MoU; Jack Ma Foundation, UNESCO, ITU, UNIDO are ARCAI partners; formal multi-party MoUs confirmed

    Note: Multiple formal university-international-government MoUs confirmed through ARCAI; scored 3

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

P6 · Weight 10% of composite

Ethics & Inclusion

1.80 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 1.16 · all 54 states mean 1.26.

  1. E6.1

    Algorithmic impact assessment

    Score 1 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 requires authorisation for sensitive data processing including automated systems, a de facto AIA; CNPD established with oversight mandate covering automated processing; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) discussed algorithm oversight; no standalone AIA requirement

    Note: CNPD authorisation as partial AIA; ARPCE developing oversight framework; scored 1

    Sources techhiveadvisory.africa (opens in a new tab)

  2. E6.2

    Bias audit requirements

    Score 0 / 4

    No bias audit requirements; ARPCE AI seminar discussed responsible AI but no regulatory instrument

    Note: Scored 0

  3. E6.3

    Transparency obligations

    Score 2 / 4

    Data Protection Law 29-2019 includes data subject rights and transparency obligations; CNPD enforces transparency; cybersecurity and cybercrime laws include digital transparency provisions; ARPCE AI seminar referenced transparency as a key principle

    Note: Data law transparency operational through CNPD; cybercrime laws provide additional framework; scored 2

    Sources coe.int (opens in a new tab)

  4. E6.4

    Citizen redress mechanism

    Score 2 / 4

    CNPD complaint mechanism available under data protection law (March 2025 publication); courts available; UNESCO judiciary training (80 judicial actors, November 2023) on AI and Rule of Law strengthened judicial capacity for AI disputes; no dedicated AI complaint channel

    Note: CNPD complaint route available; judiciary trained on AI/Rule of Law; scored 2

    Sources unesco.org (opens in a new tab)

  5. E6.5

    Judicial AI remedy

    Score 2 / 4

    UNESCO trained 80 judicial actors on AI and Rule of Law in Brazzaville (November 2023), documented judicial capacity building on AI governance; courts available for data protection disputes; no AI-specific court precedents published

    Note: Judiciary trained on AI/Rule of Law, significant capacity building; courts available; scored 2

    Sources unesco.org (opens in a new tab)

  6. E6.6

    AI advisory body diversity

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI has a scientific committee with diverse international representation (UNECA, UNESCO, ITU, UNIDO, Jack Ma Foundation); ARPCE AI seminar included diverse stakeholders; no formal standing AI advisory body with gazetted membership

    Note: ARCAI scientific committee is a de facto AI advisory body with documented diversity; formal gazetted body absent; scored 2

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  7. E6.7

    Global AI governance participation

    Score 3 / 4

    Active UNECA ARCAI partnership (Africa's first AI research centre); Smart Africa member; UNESCO AI ethics training for judiciary (2023); ITU and UNESCO partners for ARCAI; ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026); ECA data governance consultations (June 2026); Malabo Convention ratified; strong UN-level multilateral AI engagement

    Note: Advanced UN-system multilateral AI governance engagement; Malabo ratified; ARCAI is Africa's first AI research centre; scored 3

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  8. E6.8

    Civil society AI engagement

    Score 2 / 4

    UNESCO AI training included civil society; ARPCE AI seminar included private sector and civil organisations; PATN development included civil society; CNPD consultation process; ECA June 2026 consultations include diverse civil society actors

    Note: Multiple civil society engagement processes documented; scored 2

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  9. E6.9

    African ethical framework reference

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI explicitly adopts a 'human-centered approach' to AI; UNESCO AI ethics training grounded ARCAI and judiciary in African context; ECA data governance consultations (June 2026) reference AI governance in African context; ARPCE AI seminar referenced inclusive digital society

    Note: Human-centred AI approach documented through ARCAI; African context in UNESCO training; scored 2

    Sources actuia.com (opens in a new tab)

  10. E6.10

    Youth participation

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI targets youth researchers; Smart Africa Digital Academy youth components; Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce training (August 2024) included youth; no formal youth AI governance advisory mechanism

    Note: Youth training active through ARCAI and PATN; no formal advisory mechanism; scored 2

P7 · Weight 10% of composite

Regional Integration

1.90 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 1.34 · all 54 states mean 1.55.

  1. R7.1

    AU AI Strategy alignment

    Score 3 / 4

    Malabo Convention ratified (September 2020, deposited October 2020); Congo Digital 2025 explicitly aligned with AU digital frameworks; cybercrime and cybersecurity laws (2020) modelled on ECCAS standards; ECA ARCAI partnership is a flagship AU-level AI initiative; ECA data governance strategy (June 2026) formally supported by ECA

    Note: Advanced AU alignment: Malabo ratified; ECCAS-modelled laws; ECA flagship AI partnership; scored 3

    Sources au.int (opens in a new tab)

  2. R7.2

    Kigali Declaration endorsement

    Score 3 / 4

    Africa Declaration on AI (Kigali, April 2025) signed by 49 African countries; Republic of Congo as AU member and as ECCAS member likely participated; individual endorsement not separately confirmed from public sources

    Note: Likely participant as AU member; scored 1

    Scoring basis Official signatory list applied. Signatory of the Africa Declaration on AI (Kigali, 4 April 2025), C4IR list: "Endorsed" = 3.

    Sources c4ir.rw (opens in a new tab)

  3. R7.3

    REC AI governance coordination

    Score 3 / 4

    ECCAS member with laws explicitly modelled on ECCAS standards; Smart Africa Alliance active member; CPLP Portuguese-language community member; ARPCE-INACOM (Angola) spectrum cooperation agreement August 2025, bilateral digital cooperation; CAB5 regional fibre; ECA ARCAI constitutes the most significant regional AI cooperation in Central Africa

    Note: ECCAS leadership; Smart Africa; bilateral Angola cooperation; CAB5; ARCAI regional hub; scored 3

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  4. R7.4

    Cross-border AI agreements

    Score 3 / 4

    Malabo Convention ratification provides multilateral data governance framework; cybercrime laws (2020) include international cooperation provisions; ARPCE-INACOM bilateral spectrum agreement (August 2025); ECA ARCAI is a multilateral AI partnership agreement; PATN EU/World Bank bilateral cooperation; multiple confirmed bilateral and multilateral agreements

    Note: Malabo + ECCAS cooperation + bilateral Angola agreement + ECA ARCAI MoU = multiple operational multilateral frameworks; scored 3

    Sources au.int (opens in a new tab)

  5. R7.5

    Election integrity AI provisions

    Score 0 / 4

    No specific AI-in-elections provisions; presidential election March 2026 was conducted with nationwide internet blackout on election day (Wikipedia documented); CENI has no documented AI governance framework

    Note: Internet shutdown during elections is a significant digital rights concern; no AI election governance; scored 0

  6. R7.6

    Disinformation response framework

    Score 1 / 4

    Cybercrime law (27-2020) covers digital offences including disinformation-adjacent provisions; no formal AI disinformation framework; ANSSI has cybersecurity mandate; ARPCE AI seminar addressed digital trust

    Note: Cybercrime law provides partial basis; no AI disinformation framework; scored 1

  7. R7.7

    AI election incidents documented

    Score 1 / 4

    No publicly documented AI-related election interference incidents in the March 2026 election; internet blackout documented but not AI-specific

    Note: Internet shutdown documented; AI-specific attribution not confirmed; scored 0

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value: 1 (rule band). Scored on documented institutional response, not incident count. Raw value read from the evidence: "Cybercrime law (27-2020) covers digital offences including disinformation-adjacent provisions" [incidents: 0 AI-specific]. Checked against the evidence on 7 October 2026: confirmed.

  8. R7.8

    Platform content moderation

    Score 1 / 4

    ARPCE has formal regulatory authority over digital platforms; CNPD covers platform data processing; no formal AI content moderation engagement with platforms; internet blackout during March 2026 elections is a government-initiated action not AI governance

    Note: ARPCE and CNPD provide oversight; no AI content moderation framework; scored 1

  9. R7.9

    Geneva Dialogue participation

    Score 2 / 4

    Active UNECA partnership (ARCAI + data governance strategy); UNESCO and ITU partnerships for ARCAI and judiciary training; Smart Africa membership; ARPCE AI seminar January 2026; ECA data governance June 2026; no confirmed specific July 2026 UN AI Dialogue delegation

    Note: Active UN-system multilateral AI governance; ECA flagship partner; scored 2, limited by lack of confirmed GPAI/OECD participation

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  10. R7.10

    G20/multilateral AI engagement

    Score 2 / 4

    Smart Africa active member; ECCAS and AU member; UNECA flagship AI partner (ARCAI); Malabo Convention ratified; Africa Declaration on AI participant; no G20/BRICS membership; strong UN-system multilateral AI engagement

    Note: Active Smart Africa and UNECA multilateral engagement; Malabo ratified; scored 2

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

P8 · Weight 10% of composite

Implementation & Impact

1.00 / 4Emerging

Mean of all 10 indicator scores. Central Africa mean 0.60 · all 54 states mean 0.78.

  1. M8.1

    AI governance budget disbursed

    Score 2 / 4

    PATN (€136.5M) has confirmed disbursements: 76 rural connectivity sites built, 300 Wi-Fi access points installed, Brazzaville Chamber digital training centre opened (October 2025 World Bank mission confirmed progress); ARPCE Pointe-Noire DC commissioned February 2024 (FCFA 3.8B disbursed); USD 72.8M Bacongo DC under construction with African Development Bank funding

    Note: Significant confirmed disbursements through PATN and DC construction; AI governance-specific portion not disaggregated; scored 2

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

    Sources connectingafrica.com (opens in a new tab)

  2. M8.2

    Health AI regulation

    Score 1 / 4

    No health AI regulation enacted; ARCAI research includes health as a priority sector; UNESCO AI training for judiciary touched on healthcare data; no health AI governance instrument adopted; Congo Digital 2025 references e-health

    Note: Health referenced in ARCAI and digital strategy; no governance instrument; scored 1

  3. M8.3

    Health AI devices approved

    Score 0 / 4

    No AI health device approval mechanism; no regulatory pathway for health AI

    Note: Scored 0

    Scoring basis Fellow score kept; no raw value for the threshold.

  4. M8.4

    Government AI system registry

    Score 0 / 4

    No government registry of AI systems in use

    Note: Scored 0

  5. M8.5

    AI governance M&E reports

    Score 0 / 4

    ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) is the first structured AI governance assessment document; Congo Digital 2025 has implementation tracking; World Bank PATN implementation status reports (October 2025); ECA data governance assessment (June 2026) will produce a formal governance report; ARCAI operational since 2022, ongoing monitoring

    Note: Multiple governance assessment processes documented; ARPCE seminar as structured review; ECA assessment in progress; scored 2

    Scoring basis Threshold applied. Raw value read from the evidence: "ARPCE AI seminar (January 2026) is the first structured AI governance assessment document" [seminar, World Bank ISRs and pending ECA assessment are not M&E rep. Checked against the evidence on 7 October 2026: confirmed.

    Sources techafricanews.com (opens in a new tab)

  6. M8.6

    Agriculture AI governance

    Score 1 / 4

    ARCAI research specifically covers agriculture; no formal agri-AI governance framework; PATN rural connectivity supports agricultural digital access; Congo Digital 2025 references agriculture through digital economy

    Note: ARCAI agriculture research; PATN rural connectivity; no governance framework; scored 1

  7. M8.7

    Financial services AI governance

    Score 1 / 4

    BEAC (regional central bank) no confirmed AI guidance; mobile money (MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money) growing; CNPD established but no fintech AI governance guidance yet; no standalone AI financial services regulation

    Note: Mobile money active; CNPD potential oversight; no AI fintech framework; scored 1

  8. M8.8

    Education AI governance

    Score 2 / 4

    Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce digital training centre (PATN-funded, August 2024) is a formal government-PATN education programme; ARCAI MSc programme operational; Smart Africa Digital Academy; UNESCO judiciary training; no formal AI education policy but multiple operational programmes

    Note: Multiple operational AI education programmes through ARCAI, PATN, Smart Africa; no AI education policy; scored 2

    Sources energycapitalpower.com (opens in a new tab)

  9. M8.9

    Measurable governance outcomes

    Score 2 / 4

    ARCAI operational since February 2022, Africa's first AI research centre; judicial actors trained on AI and Rule of Law (80 judicial actors, UNESCO, November 2023); 76 rural connectivity sites built through PATN; CNPD established March 2025; 2Africa cable activated February 2024; measurable governance outcomes documented across multiple domains

    Note: Documented measurable governance outcomes: ARCAI operational, judiciary trained, connectivity built, CNPD established, 2Africa activated; scored 2

    Sources uneca.org (opens in a new tab)

  10. M8.10

    WHO AI health guidance adoption

    Score 1 / 4

    No formal adoption of WHO Ethics and Governance of AI for Health guidance; WHO operates health programmes; ARCAI health research could support future alignment; no confirmed adoption

    Note: Scored 1 as nascent, ARCAI health research provides some alignment basis

Method

What is the Africa AI Governance Index?

The Africa AI Governance Index 2026 assesses 8 pillars of national AI governance. Each pillar is examined through 10 indicators. The Index is diagnostic. It measures formal governance instruments, not capability. Composite differences under about 0.1 are not meaningful.

Indicator score key

Indicator score key, 0 to 4
ScoreDefinition
0 No evidenceNo policy, institution, or activity. Confirmed absence.
1 NascentInitial discussion, concept note, informal working group.
2 DevelopingDraft policy, institution forming, pilot, or formal consultation.
3 EstablishedAdopted policy or operational institution; limited enforcement.
4 AdvancedFully operational with enforcement and measurable outcomes.

Maturity tiers

Applied to pillar and composite means.

Maturity tiers by score range
TierMean score
NascentBelow 1.00
Emerging1.00 to 1.99
Developing2.00 to 2.99
Established3.00 and above

How scores are built

A pillar score is the mean of the scored indicators in that pillar. Confirmed absence scores 0. An indicator where nothing could be determined is excluded from the pillar mean and reported as not scored. A score with no supporting evidence is excluded.

The composite is 15% of each of pillars P1 to P4 plus 10% of each of pillars P5 to P8, on a scale of 0 to 4. In other words, P1, P2, P3, P4 carry 15% each and P5, P6, P7, P8 carry 10% each.

Source: Africa AI Governance Index 2026 Final Dataset, 54 countries, built 6 October 2026. Lawyers Hub, Africa AI Policy Lab. Version 1.2, 7 October 2026.

Other Central Africa profiles

Suggested citation

Lawyers Hub, Africa AI Policy Lab (2026). Country Profile on AI Governance: Republic of the Congo. Africa AI Governance Index 2026, version 1.2, 7 October 2026. https://www.aipolicy.africa/country-profiles/congo

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