The Congolese women urged to develop their own artificial intelligence applications

Kinshasa, October 8th, 2026 (CPA).-The women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been urged to train themselves and develop their own applications relating to digital technology and artificial intelligence, during the official launching of the International Forum of Women Leaders (FIEF-DRC) in Kinshasa. “The women and the girls must not merely be users of innovations designed elsewhere. They must be able to train, start businesses, develop their own applications and contribute to the governance of these tools. Our meeting must therefore bring together three requirements: international ambition, regional and African cooperation, and the practical implementation of this within our national contexts,” has declared Judith Suminwa, Prime Minister of DRC. “The themes of this forum – artificial intelligence and digital inclusion, women’s entrepreneurship, sexual and reproductive health, the fight against gender-based violence, and positive masculinity – call on us to move beyond isolated approaches. They concern rights, skills, access to resources and services, and the ability to participate in decision-making,” she has said. According to the Congolese Prime Minister, inclusion cannot therefore be limited merely to provide access. It also involves making the necessary resources available to achieve this and effectively exercising the opportunities and responsibilities offered, particularly in the technology sector. “We must ensure that the women in our provinces and rural areas can access training and receive support. The difficulties with connectivity, equipment or training must not be allowed to act as barriers to technological ambition,” she has emphasised, before pointing out that, at the international level, women’s participation must be fully integrated into the transformations shaping their future. “To achieve these objectives, we must develop cooperation and build strong international and regional partnerships that will serve to build and sustainably strengthen the capacities of women, as well as those of the organisations and institutions that support them,” Ms Suminwa has continued. The Prime Minister has explained that, during this forum, discussions on artificial intelligence must therefore address concrete questions, including: “What skills should be transmitted? What resources should be made accessible? What scientific and professional partnerships should be forged? How can we ensure that innovation effectively meets the needs of our communities?” This Forum aims to strengthen the capacities and leadership of African women and girls and to accelerate their empowerment, whilst promoting their participation in digital transformation, economic development, governance, peacebuilding, advocacy and pan-African networking. This 12th edition of the Fief is being held in DRC for the first time and runs until Sunday October 11th.ACP/