# Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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 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, Zaire was able to capitalize on Cold War tensions to garner support from the West. 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, with Ugandan, Burundian, and Rwandan forces helping the rebel movement which occupies much of the eastern portion of the state.
One problem is the continuing theft of mineral resources, such as coltan, by occupying forces. One estimate has the Rwandan army making $350 million in 48 months from the sale of coltan, even though Rwanda has no coltan deposits. 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.
Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan support the Kinshasa regime.
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 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:
Date :
| 1 | Czech Republic | 30 June 1960 |
| 2 | Egypt | 30 June 1960 |
| 3 | France | 30 June 1960 |
| 4 | Germany | 30 June 1960 |
| 5 | Israel | 30 June 1960 |
| 6 | Japan | 30 June 1960 |
| 7 | Liberia | 30 June 1960 |
| 8 | Poland | 30 June 1960 |
| 9 | United States | 30 June 1960 |
| 10 | Ghana | 1 July 1960 |
| 11 | Belgium | 2 July 1960 |
| 12 | Portugal | 7 July 1960 |
| 13 | Russia | 7 July 1960 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 7 July 1960 |
| 15 | Italy | 21 July 1960 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 25 July 1960 |
| 17 | Sudan | 9 August 1960 |
| 18 | India | August 1960 |
| 19 | Ivory Coast | 1960 |
| 20 | Tunisia | 1960 |
| 21 | Bulgaria | 22 February 1961 |
| 22 | Vietnam | 13 April 1961 |
| 23 | Mali | 23 November 1961 |
| 24 | Benin | 1961 |
| 25 | Serbia | 1961 |
| 26 | Canada | 12 June 1962 |
| 27 | Denmark | 1 August 1962 |
| 28 | Switzerland | 12 October 1962 |
| 29 | Sweden | 1962 |
| 30 | Uganda | 4 March 1963 |
| 31 | South Korea | 1 April 1963 |
| 32 | Algeria | August 1963 |
| 33 | Burundi | 1963 |
| 34 | Ethiopia | 1963 |
| 35 | Indonesia | 1963 |
| 36 | Nigeria | 1963 |
| 37 | Senegal | 1963 |
| 38 | Tanzania | 30 May 1964 |
| 39 | Zambia | 24 October 1964 |
| 40 | Spain | 3 November 1964 |
| 41 | Cameroon | 29 June 1965 |
| 42 | Luxembourg | 7 September 1965 |
| 43 | Republic of the Congo | 5 November 1965 |
| 44 | Central African Republic | February 1966 |
| — | Rwanda (suspended) | August 1966 |
| 45 | Greece | 15 June 1966 |
| 46 | Romania | 14 October 1966 |
| 47 | Guinea | 1966 |
| 48 | Kenya | 1966 |
| 49 | Brazil | 21 June 1968 |
| 50 | Morocco | 27 September 1968 |
| 51 | Thailand | 14 February 1969 |
| 52 | Chad | 2 April 1969 |
| 53 | Libya | June 1969 |
| 54 | Norway | 27 September 1969 |
| 55 | Niger | 1969 |
| 56 | Gabon | 28 January 1970 |
| 57 | Finland | 3 April 1970 |
| 58 | Togo | 14 July 1970 |
| 59 | Chile | 31 March 1972 |
| 60 | Mauritania | May 1972 |
| 61 | Lebanon | June 1972 |
| 62 | Austria | 24 July 1972 |
| 63 | Argentina | 4 October 1972 |
| 64 | Cambodia | 5 October 1972 |
| 65 | China | 24 November 1972 |
| 66 | North Korea | 12 December 1972 |
| 67 | Somalia | 28 January 1973 |
| 68 | Iran | 11 February 1973 |
| 69 | Hungary | 16 June 1973 |
| 70 | Saudi Arabia | 13 September 1973 |
| 71 | Cuba | 11 April 1974 |
| 72 | Guinea Bissau | 19 July 1974 |
| 73 | Madagascar | 26 July 1974 |
| 74 | Sierra Leone | 20 January 1975 |
| 75 | Mongolia | 4 February 1975 |
| 76 | Mexico | 31 July 1975 |
| 77 | Peru | 3 August 1975 |
| 78 | Turkey | 22 October 1975 |
| 79 | Mauritius | 19 June 1976 |
| 80 | Mozambique | 30 July 1976 |
| — | Holy See | 31 January 1977 |
| 81 | Sri Lanka | 13 May 1978 |
| 82 | Eswatini | June 1978 |
| 83 | Angola | 29 July 1978 |
| 84 | Oman | 1978 |
| 85 | Seychelles | 1978 |
| 86 | Ecuador | 29 February 1980 |
| 87 | Bahrain | 3 June 1980 |
| 88 | Lesotho | 6 November 1980 |
| 89 | Malawi | November 1980 |
| 90 | Zimbabwe | 1980 |
| 91 | Gambia | 7 January 1981 |
| 92 | Singapore | 23 March 1984 |
| 93 | Uruguay | 31 April 1984 |
| 94 | San Marino | 14 May 1984 |
| — | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 1984 |
| 95 | Haiti | 1 October 1986 |
| 96 | Nicaragua | 16 April 1987 |
| 97 | Namibia | 4 October 1990 |
| 98 | Kuwait | 27 November 1990 |
| 99 | South Africa | 30 September 1992 |
| 100 | Slovakia | 18 February 1993 |
| 101 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20 March 1995 |
| 102 | Malaysia | 1997 |
| 103 | Ukraine | 13 April 1999 |
| 104 | North Macedonia | 27 September 1999 |
| 105 | Philippines | 9 January 2000 |
| 106 | Cyprus | 20 June 2000 |
| 107 | Ireland | 2000 |
| 108 | Jordan | 16 September 2002 |
| 109 | Venezuela | 3 May 2005 |
| 110 | Nepal | 22 September 2006 |
| 111 | Iceland | 23 February 2007 |
| 112 | Djibouti | 26 March 2007 |
| 113 | Dominican Republic | 26 September 2007 |
| 114 | Croatia | 19 October 2007 |
| 115 | Montenegro | 22 September 2010 |
| 116 | Belarus | 16 November 2010 |
| 117 | Georgia | 14 January 2011 |
| 118 | Latvia | 14 January 2011 |
| 119 | Slovenia | 25 February 2011 |
| 120 | Azerbaijan | 23 September 2011 |
| 121 | Australia | 2011 |
| 122 | South Sudan | 4 March 2013 |
| 123 | Cape Verde | 14 May 2014 |
| 124 | Armenia | 11 October 2015 |
| 125 | United Arab Emirates | 1 November 2017 |
| 126 | Estonia | 3 July 2018 |
| 127 | Monaco | 5 July 2018 |
| 128 | Qatar | 6 November 2019 |
| 129 | Botswana | 9 February 2023 |
| 130 | Bangladesh | Unknown |
| 131 | Burkina Faso | Unknown |
| 132 | Comoros | Unknown |
| 133 | Equatorial Guinea | Unknown |
| 134 | Iraq | Unknown |
| 135 | Pakistan | Unknown |
| 136 | Trinidad and Tobago | Unknown |

## Bilateral relations
### Africa

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Algeria | | Algeria has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Algiers. |
| Angola | 29 July 1978 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 1978 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 Charge d'Affaires of Dahomey to Leopoldville (Kinshasa) (1961-1963) and later ambassador to DRC (Zaire) (1963-1973). |
| Burundi | | Burundi has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| Central African Republic | | CAR has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Bangui. |
| Chad | | Chad has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in N'Djamena and a consulate in Moundou. |
| Côte d'Ivoire | | Côte d'Ivoire has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Abidjan. |
| Egypt | 30 June 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Republic of the Congo | | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo relations Congo has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Brazzaville. |
| Kenya | | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Kenya relations DR Congo has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Namibia | 4 October 1990 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo-Namibia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 October 1990. DR Congo has an embassy in Windhoek. Namibia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Nigeria | | DR Congo has an embassy in Abuja. Nigeria has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Rwanda | February 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. It was the first presidential meeting between the two countries for 13 years, 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. The pair of presidents spent more than two hours in the company of each other and "reviewed all issues of common interest". Kabila referred to it as "the first giant step forward" in what was referred to as an "all new era". One month previous to the meeting both countries had appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals. In August 2013, Rwanda accused Congolese forces of persistently shelling Congo's territory after a flare-up of fighting in the eastern Congo. DR Congo has an embassy in Kigali. Rwanda has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Senegal | | DR Congo has an embassy in Dakar. Senegal has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| South Africa | 30 September 1992 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1992 DR Congo has an embassy in Pretoria. South Africa has an embassy in Kinshasa and a consulate-general in Lubumbashi. |
| Tanzania | 30 May 1964 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 May 1964 when Andrew Tibandebage is appointed as Ambassador of Tanganyika to Congo (Leopoldville) 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. |
| Uganda | 4 March 1963 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 March 1963 DR Congo has an embassy in Kampala. Uganda has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Zambia | 24 October 1964 | Both 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 DR Congo has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |

### Americas

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Argentina | 4 October 1972 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 October 1972 Argentina has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Buenos Aires. |
| Brazil | 21 June 1968 | See Brazil–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 June 1968 Brazil has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Brasília. |
| Canada | 12 June 1962 | See Canada–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1962 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. 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. Canada has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Ottawa. |
| Cuba | 11 April 1974 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 April 1974 Cuba has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Havana. |
| Mexico | 31 July 1975 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Mexico relations Both nations established diplomatic relations on 31 July 1975 DR Congo does not have an accreditation to Mexico. Mexico is accredited to DR Congo from its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| United States | 30 June 1960 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo-United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 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. DR Congo has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Uruguay | 31 April 1984 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 April 1984 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. 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. |

### Asia

| 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 |
| China | 24 November 1972 | See China-Democratic Republic of the Congo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 November 1972 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. |
| India | August 1960 | See 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). DR Congo has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Israel | | DR Congo has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has a Honorary Consulate in Kinshasa. |
| Japan | 30 June 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Lebanon | | DR Congo is accredited to Lebanon from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Lebanon has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| South Korea | 1 April 1963 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 April 1963 DR Congo has an embassy in Seoul. South Korea has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Turkey | 22 October 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1975 Democratic Republic of Congo has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Kinshasa. Trade volume between the two countries was US$54.7 million in 2019. |

### Europe

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Belgium | 2 July 1960 | See 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. Belgium has an embassy in Kinshasa and a consulate-general in Lubumbashi. DR Congo has an embassy in Brussels and a consulate-general in Antwerp. |
| France | 30 June 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Paris. France has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Germany | 30 June 1960 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Germany relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Greece | 15 June 1966 | See 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. 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. DR Congo has an embassy in Athens. Greece has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Italy | 21 July 1960 | See 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 DR Congo has an embassy in Rome. Italy has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Netherlands | 25 July 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 July 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in The Hague. Netherlands has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Norway | 27 September 1969 | See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Norway relatio ns]] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1969 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. |
| Poland | 30 June 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Warsaw. Poland is accredited to the DR Congo from its embassy in Luanda, Angola. |
| Portugal | 7 July 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Lisbon. Portugal has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Russia | 7 July 1960 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Russia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960 DR Congo has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Serbia | 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1961 DR Congo has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Spain | 3 November 1964 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1964 DR Congo has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| Sweden | 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1962 DR Congo has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Kinshasa. |
| United Kingdom | 7 July 1960 | See Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1960 when Mr. Ian Dixon Scott, Consul-General of United Kingdom in Leopoldville has been appointed as the first British Ambassador to the Congo-Leopoldville. DR Congo has an embassy in London. United Kingdom has an embassy in Kinshasa. |