Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The Democratic Republic of Congo (abbreviated as DRC) formerly known as Zaire is a country located in central Africa. Its the second largest country in Africa and the 11th in the world.

Its location in the center of Africa has made the Democratic Republic of the Congo (at one time known as Zaire) a key player in the region since independence. Because of its size, mineral wealth, and strategic location,[1] Zaire was able to capitalize on Cold War tensions to garner support from the West.[2] In the early 1990s, however, with the end of the Cold War and in the face of growing evidence of human rights abuses, Western support waned as pressure for internal reform increased.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states,[3] with Ugandan, Burundian, and Rwandan forces helping the rebel movement that occupies much of the eastern portion of the state.

One problem is the continuing theft of mineral resources, such as coltan, by occupying forces.[4] One estimate suggests the Rwandan army made $350 million in 48 months from the sale of coltan. Multiple sources indicate that Rwandan coltan is sourced illegally from the DRC.[5][6] Not only can the DRC not make any money from its mineral wealth, due to its inability to tax anything in rebel-held areas, but the wealth is also used itself to finance insurgent activities.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, Israel, October 2021
Tshisekedi, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen in Kinshasa, 4 March 2023

Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan support the Kinshasa regime.[7]

Furthermore, relations with surrounding countries have often been driven by security concerns. Intricate and interlocking alliances have often characterized regional relations. Conflicts in Sudan, Uganda, Angola, Rwanda, and Burundi have at various times created bilateral and regional tensions. The current crisis in DRC has its roots both in the use of The Congo as a base by various insurgency groups[8] attacking neighboring countries and in the absence of a broad-based political system in the Congo.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the U.S.-military (as covered under Article 98).

Disputes – international

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the eastern portion of the state – Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; most of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area).

On December 19, 2005, the International Court of Justice found against Uganda, in a case brought by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for illegal invasion of its territory, and violation of human rights.

Illicit drugs

The DRC has some illicit production of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption. While rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center.

Diplomatic relations

List of Countries which the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
#CountryDate
1 Czech Republic 30 June 1960[9]
2 Egypt 30 June 1960[10]
3 France 30 June 1960[11]
4 Germany 30 June 1960[12][13]
5 Israel 30 June 1960[14]
6 Japan 30 June 1960[15]
7 Liberia 30 June 1960[16]
8 Poland 30 June 1960[17]
9 United States 30 June 1960[18]
10 Belgium 2 July 1960[19]
11 Portugal 7 July 1960[20]
12 Russia 7 July 1960[21]
13 United Kingdom 7 July 1960[22]
14 Ghana 15 July 1960[23]
15 Italy 21 July 1960[24]
16 Netherlands 25 July 1960[25]
17 Serbia 2 August 1960[26]
18 Sudan 9 August 1960[27]
19 India August 1960[28]
20 Tunisia 1960[29]
21 Bulgaria 22 February 1961[30]
22 Vietnam 13 April 1961[31]
23 Benin 22 August 1961[32]
24 Mali 23 November 1961[33][34]
25 Canada 12 June 1962[35]
26 Denmark 1 August 1962[36]
27  Switzerland 12 October 1962[37]
28 Sweden October 1962[38]
29 Uganda 4 March 1963[39]
30 South Korea 1 April 1963[40]
31 Senegal June 1963[41]
32 Algeria August 1963[42]
33 Burundi 1963[43]
34 Ethiopia 1963[44]
35 Indonesia 1963[45]
36 Tanzania 30 May 1964[46]
37 Zambia 24 October 1964[47]
38 Spain 3 November 1964[48]
39 Nigeria 27 November 1964[49]
40 Cameroon 29 June 1965[50]
41 Luxembourg 7 September 1965[51]
42 Republic of the Congo 5 November 1965[52][53]
43 Central African Republic February 1966[54]
— Rwanda (suspended)[55] August 1966[56]
44 Greece 15 June 1966[57]
45 Romania 14 October 1966[58]
46 Ivory Coast 25 October 1966[59]
47 Guinea 1966[60]
48 Kenya 1966[61]
49 Brazil 21 June 1968[62]
50 Morocco 27 September 1968[63]
51 Thailand 14 February 1969[64]
52 Chad 2 April 1969[65]
53 Libya June 1969[66]
54 Norway 27 September 1969[67]
55 Gabon 28 January 1970[68]
56 Finland 3 April 1970[69]
57 Togo 13 July 1970[70]
58 Niger 12 August 1971[71]
59 Chile 31 March 1972[72]
60 Mauritania May 1972[73]
61 Lebanon June 1972[74]
62 Austria 24 July 1972[75]
63 Argentina 4 October 1972[76]
64 Cambodia 5 October 1972[77]
65 China 24 November 1972[78]
66 North Korea 12 December 1972[79]
67 Somalia 28 January 1973[80]
68 Iran 11 February 1973[81]
69 Hungary 16 June 1973[82]
70 Saudi Arabia 13 September 1973[83]
71 Cuba 11 April 1974[84]
72 Guinea Bissau 19 July 1974[85]
73 Madagascar 26 July 1974[86]
74 Sierra Leone 20 January 1975[87]
75 Mongolia 4 February 1975[88]
76 Mexico 31 July 1975[89]
77 Peru 3 August 1975[90]
78 Turkey 22 October 1975[91]
79 Mauritius 19 June 1976[92]
80 Mozambique 30 July 1976[93]
— Holy See 31 January 1977[94]
81 Sri Lanka 13 May 1978[95]
82 Eswatini June 1978[96]
83 Angola 29 July 1978[97]
84 Oman 1978[98]
85 Seychelles 1978[99]
86 Ecuador 29 February 1980[100]
87 Bahrain 3 June 1980[101]
88 Lesotho 6 November 1980[102]
89 Malawi November 1980[103][104]
90 Zimbabwe 1980[105]
91 Gambia 7 January 1981[106]
92 Singapore 23 March 1984[107]
93 Uruguay 31 March 1984[108]
94 San Marino 14 May 1984[109]
— Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1984[110]
95 Haiti 1 October 1986[100]
96 Nicaragua 16 April 1987[111]
97 Namibia 4 October 1990[112]
98 Kuwait 27 November 1990[100]
99 South Africa 30 September 1992[113]
100 Slovakia 18 February 1993[114]
101 Bosnia and Herzegovina 20 March 1995[115]
102 Malaysia 1997[116]
103 Ukraine 13 April 1999[100]
104 North Macedonia 27 September 1999[100]
105 Philippines 9 January 2000[117]
106 Cyprus 20 June 2000[118]
107 Ireland 2000[119]
108 Jordan 16 September 2002[120]
109 Venezuela 3 May 2005[100]
110   Nepal 22 September 2006[100]
111 Iceland 23 February 2007[121]
112 Djibouti 26 March 2007[122]
113 Dominican Republic 26 September 2007[123]
114 Croatia 19 October 2007[100]
115 Montenegro 22 September 2010[100]
116 Belarus 16 November 2010[124]
117 Georgia 14 January 2011[100]
118 Latvia 14 January 2011[100]
119 Australia 18 January 2011[125]
120 Slovenia 25 February 2011[100]
121 Azerbaijan 23 September 2011[126]
122 South Sudan 4 March 2013[127]
123 Cape Verde 14 May 2014[128]
124 Armenia 11 October 2015[129]
125 United Arab Emirates 1 November 2017[130]
126 Estonia 3 July 2018[100]
127 Monaco 5 July 2018[131]
128 Qatar 6 November 2019[100]
129 Kazakhstan 2022[132]
130 Botswana 9 February 2023[133]
131 Andorra 23 February 2026[134]
132 Kyrgyzstan 24 February 2026[135]
133 Bangladesh Unknown
134 Burkina Faso Unknown
135 Comoros Unknown
136 Equatorial Guinea Unknown
137 Iraq Unknown
138 Pakistan Unknown
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Bilateral relations

Africa

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Angola29 July 1978Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 1978[97]

See Angola–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

  • Angola has an embassy in Kinshasa.
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Luanda.
Benin 1961 Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1961 when has been accredited Mr. Paul Fabo as Chargé d'Affaires of Dahomey to Leopoldville (Kinshasa) (1961–1963) and later ambassador to DRC (Zaire) (1963–1973).[136]
Republic of the CongoSee Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo relations
  • Congo has an embassy in Kinshasa.
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Brazzaville.
KenyaSee Democratic Republic of the Congo–Kenya relations
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Nairobi.
  • Kenya has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Namibia4 October 1990See Democratic Republic of the Congo-Namibia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 October 1990.[112]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Kinshasa.
RwandaFebruary 1969
Relations severed 26 January 2025		See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda relations

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Joseph Kabila in Goma on 6 August 2009.[137] It was the first presidential meeting between the two countries for 13 years,[138] with the two countries having come to a disagreement in 1996 following an invasion by Rwanda into eastern Congo, a disagreement which was renewed in 1998 after a further invasion.[137] The pair of presidents spent more than two hours in the company of each other and "reviewed all issues of common interest".[137] Kabila referred to it as "the first giant step forward" in what was referred to as an "all new era".[138] One month previous to the meeting both countries had appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals.[137][138]

In August 2013, Rwanda accused Congolese forces of persistently shelling Congo's territory after a flare-up of fighting in the eastern Congo.[139]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Kigali.
  • Rwanda has an embassy in Kinshasa.
South Africa30 September 1992Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1992[113]
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Pretoria.
  • South Africa has an embassy in Kinshasa and a consulate-general in Lubumbashi.
Tanzania30 May 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 May 1964 when Andrew Tibandebage is appointed as Ambassador of Tanganyika to Congo (Leopoldville)[46]
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Dar es Salaam and a consulate-general in Kigoma.
  • Tanzania has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Togo 14 July 1970 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1970 when Congo-Kinshasa's first Ambassador to Togo, Mr. Kondo Belan, presented his credentials to Head of State Etienne Eyadema.[140]
Zambia24 October 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on Zambia's independence 24 October 1964, when Democratic Republic of the Congo has raised its consulate-general in Lusaka to embassy level, and consul Mabita has been promoted to chargé d'affaires[47]
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Lusaka.
  • Zambia has an embassy in Kinshasa.
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Americas

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Brazil21 June 1968See Brazil–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 June 1968[62]

  • Brazil has an embassy in Kinshasa.
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada12 June 1962See Canada–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1962[35] Canada and the D.R. Congo share full membership in Francophonie. Canada was the D.R. Congo's ninth-largest country donor of official development assistance over 1960–2009, disbursing a total of US$0.89 billion in constant 2008 US dollars, or 2.4% of DRC's total bilateral aid receipts.[141] In 2009, Cdn.$3.3 billion in assets were held by thirteen large-scale and junior Canadian mining companies in the DRC, a ten-fold increase from 2001.[142]

  • Canada has an embassy in Kinshasa.
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Ottawa.
Mexico31 July 1975See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Mexico relations

Both nations established diplomatic relations on 31 July 1975[89]

  • DR Congo does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
  • Mexico is accredited to DR Congo from its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[143]
United States30 June 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo-United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960[18]

The United States appointed its current ambassador to the D.R.C. in 2007. The D.R.C. appointed its current ambassador to the United States in 2000. The Congo has been on the State Department's travel advisory list since 1977.

Uruguay31 March 1984

See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uruguay relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 March 1984[108]

In December 2021, President Luis Lacalle Pou paid a visit to Bukavu and Goma and visited with Uruguayan soldiers stationed there as part of MONUSCO in Eastern DR Congo.[146]

  • DR Congo is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Uruguay is accredited to the DR Congo from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
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Asia

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Azerbaijan 23 September 2011 See Azerbaijan-Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 September 2011[147]

China24 November 1972See China-Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 November 1972[78]

China is a large investor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, primarily in the secondary (manufacturing) and primary (resource extraction) markets.

  • China has an embassy in Kinshasa.
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Beijing.
IndiaAugust 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo–India relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations in August 1960 when India had decided to open an embassy in Leopoldville (Kinshasa).[28]

Indonesia1963See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Indonesia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963.[150]

Turkey22 October 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1975[91]
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Europe

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Belgium2 July 1960See Belgium–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 July 1960 when establishment of the Belgian diplomatic mission in Leopoldville and Jean Van den Bosch becomes the Belgian ambassador.[19]

Germany30 June 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Germany relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960[12]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Berlin.
  • Germany has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Greece15 June 1966See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Greece relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 June 1966 when Ambassador of Democratic Republic of Congo to Greece M. Joseph Kahamba, presented his credentials to King Constantin.[57]

Both countries are full members of Francophonie. In July 2009, the Greek government pledged US$500,000 through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for humanitarian assistance to Congo.[154]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Athens.
  • Greece has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Italy21 July 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Italy relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 July 1960 when accredited first Ambassador of Italy to Congo (Leopoldville) Mr. Pietro Franca[24]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Rome.
  • Italy has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Norway27 September 1969See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Norway relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1969[67]

  • DR Congo is accredited to Norway from its embassy in London, United Kingdom.
  • Norway is accredited to the DR Congo from its embassy in Luanda, Angola.
Russia7 July 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Russia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960[21]

Serbia1961Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1961[156]
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Belgrade.
  • Serbia has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Spain3 November 1964See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Spain relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1964[48]

  • DR Congo has an embassy in Madrid.
  • Spain has an embassy in Kinshasa.
Sweden1962Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1962[157]
  • DR Congo has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Kinshasa.
United Kingdom7 July 1960See Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in London, October 2022.

Democratic Republic of the Congo established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 7 July 1960.[22][failed verification]

  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains an embassy in London.[158]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its embassy in Kinshasa.[159]

Both countries share common membership of the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership.[160]

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See also

References

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