Congo Cancels $1.2 Billion ID System Contract After Costs Spiral

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has made the decision to cancel its contract with a consortium led by Amdocs for the creation of a national identification system. Initially priced at $1.2 billion, the costs of the project have significantly increased during its implementation, prompting the authorities to take this step. The contract, signed in 2019, was aimed at enhancing government efficiency and increasing security in the country.

According to local sources, the government faced issues with the consortium's performance, which led to a reassessment of the initial commitments. Congo has already spent a considerable amount of money on the project, but experts believe that the selected contractors failed to adequately deliver on the outlined objectives. In particular, there were serious concerns regarding the quality of software development and its compliance with modern standards.

Instead, Congo plans to revisit its approaches to implementing the identification system, possibly opting for more cost-effective and efficient alternatives. The Ministry of Finance stated that a new solution should be reached by the end of the year to avoid further delays.

It is important to note that this decision has sparked significant discussion within the country, with many local experts arguing that it could affect the overall well-being of citizens, as such a system would be a crucial step toward better organized and secure governance.

As such, the future of the identification system in Congo remains uncertain, and the government intends to conduct further consultations and research before making the next move.

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