DRC Launches National Digital Identity System
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rolling out RDC-PASS, a national digital identity system designed to give citizens one secure identifier for accessing government services and financial platforms. The phased rollout aims to:
- Verify SIM card owners using biometric data to reduce fraud
- Provide a single login for all government online portals
- Enable faster e-KYC checks for banks and financial institutions
- Complement existing physical identity documents rather than replace them
The RDC-PASS initiative mirrors similar efforts across Africa, including Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) system with over 126 million registered citizens and South Africa’s proposed digital ID as an additional verification method.
Unexpected Funding Challenge in South Africa
Meanwhile, South Africa is grappling with an unintended consequence of its EV transition. The RAF (Road Accident Fund), which provides compensation to road accident victims through a fuel levy, faces a growing funding gap as more motorists switch to electric vehicles that don’t consume petrol.
With BEV sales rising 96% year-on-year in Q1 2026, the government is considering introducing a new licence renewal fee to offset the revenue decline. This proposal has drawn criticism from some who argue it would place an additional burden on motorists already contributing through the fuel levy while EV owners—the drivers of this structural change—would not face the same charge.
The RAF itself recently reported being structurally insolvent with a backlog of 400,000 claims, highlighting deeper systemic challenges beyond just the funding gap from EVs. This issue is likely to become increasingly common as more countries navigate the transition to electric mobility.