RCA launches digital service portal

The Central African Republic (RCA) announced on Wednesday, October 14, the launch of a national portal intended to facilitate citizens' access to information and public services. The initiative comes at a time when Internet usage remains limited, raising questions about the population's ability to benefit from the digitization of administration.

Portal offers multiple services

The services currently available on the platform cover several areas, including transportation, legal matters, education, and health. In the transportation sector, users can apply for an urban transport subscription or a driver's license. The legal aspect includes requests for a national criminal record and a certificate of nationality.

Education and health services available

In the field of education, the platform offers procedures related to the school certificate and the baccalaureate certificate. In terms of health, it allows users to request a medical consultation and to schedule an appointment. Services for actors in the financial sector, NGOs, and businesses are also listed.

Goal is to simplify access to services

The objective stated by Central African authorities is to bring the administration closer to citizens by allowing them easier access to public services, without having to go to administrative offices or endure long queues. However, this approach is not systematic: even digitized administrative procedures can remain out of reach for part of the population.

Internet access remains limited

Access to these services requires, in particular, having an Internet connection. According to DataReportal, about 670,000 people used the Internet in Central Africa by the end of 2025, or about 12 % of the population. The country had approximately 2.49 million mobile connections at the same time.

Network coverage is uneven

The availability of networks is another factor. According to the data from the GSMA's "Mobile Connectivity Index" for 2024, 2G and 3G networks covered about 60 % of the population. 4G, which began commercial launch in 2025, remains in the deployment phase. Beyond coverage, users must have equipment compatible with the Internet, whether it be a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone, and be able to pay for the necessary plans.

Digital skills matter

Mastery of reading and basic digital skills are also among the conditions that can facilitate or complicate the use of online services. Not having personal access to the Internet does not necessarily mean being deprived of digital services. According to the GSMA, about 710 million people, or 9 % of the world's population, accessed mobile Internet in 2024 using a shared or borrowed device.

Shared devices offer access

In sub-Saharan Africa, this proportion reached 6 %. Sharing a connected phone can thus allow several members of the same household to access online services. A person who masters digital tools can also assist others in their procedures.