The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has abruptly canceled a $1.2 billion project aimed at establishing a national biometric ID system. This decision comes just months after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced. Richard Ilunga, Director General of Congo’s National Office for Population Identification (ONIP), confirmed that the contract with French biometrics provider Idemia was terminated on August 12, 2024. The project, which included building a civil registry and printing ID cards through an intermediary, Afritech, has been officially abandoned.
Secretive Meeting Leads to Cancellation
Ilunga did not disclose the exact reason for the contract’s termination but mentioned that the decision followed a meeting involving multiple government agencies and representatives from the Idemia-Afritech partnership. This development closely follows a revealing investigation by Bloomberg and Lighthouse, published on August 9, which uncovered that funds intended for the national ID system were allegedly diverted to benefit a small group of elites.
Investigation Uncovers Alarming Financial Misconduct
According to the investigation, the national ID system project has been mired in controversy since 2020. During that year, nearly 60 companies proposed various plans to the government for implementing the system, which ONIP initially estimated would cost approximately $360 million.
However, by the time a consortium, including Idemia and its local partner Afritech, was selected as the preferred vendor, the project’s cost had ballooned to $1.2 billion, more than triple the original estimate. The investigation highlighted “flagrant overpricing” in the Idemia-Afritech proposal, warning that the contract risked becoming a “massive scam.”
World Bank Refuses Funding Over Lack of Transparency
Earlier, the World Bank, approached by DRC’s Ministry of Finance to help finance the national ID system, declined to provide funding due to the absence of a competitive tendering process. This refusal underscored concerns about the transparency and integrity of the project.
A Troubled History of National ID in DR Congo
DR Congo has long faced challenges in establishing a reliable national ID system. Before the attempted rollout of biometric ID cards last year, the last issuance of identity cards occurred between 1984 and 1987, when plastic cards were introduced. However, that initiative was never fully realized.
Without a national identification system, citizens have struggled to open bank accounts, obtain official documents, and register to vote. In recent years, those of voting age have registered at special centers to receive plastic-covered cards with a photo and QR code, which for many is their only form of official ID, as they lack passports, driver’s licenses, or professional cards.
Future Plans for National ID System
Despite the recent setback, ONIP announced on August 23, 2024, that it plans to relaunch the national ID issuance operations soon. The new direction aims to address the urgent need for a functional identification system in the country, though specifics on how this will be achieved remain unclear.