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, 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 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. 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. 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: # Country Date12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243— (suspended)44454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677787980—81828384858687888990919293—949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133Unknown134Unknown135Unknown136Unknown137Unknown

Bilateral relations Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes29 July 1978Both 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.1961Both 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).See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo relations

Congo has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Brazzaville.See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Kenya relations

DR Congo has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Kinshasa.4 October 1990See 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.February 1969Relations 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.30 September 1992Both 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.30 May 1964Both 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.14 July 1970Both 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.24 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 DR Congo has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Kinshasa.

Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes21 June 1968See 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.12 June 1962See 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.Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. "Aggregate Aid Statistics: ODA by recipient by country", OECD International Development Statistics (database). (accessed March 12, 2011). 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.Miron, Michel. 2010. "Africa: Cumulative Canadian Mining Assets" (calculated at acquisition, construction or fabricating costs, and includes capitalized exploration and development costs, non-controlling interests, and excludes liquid assets, cumulative depreciation, and write-off), Minerals and Metals Sector, Department of Natural Resources Canada, internal document. Canada has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Ottawa.31 July 1975See 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.30 June 1960See 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.31 March 1984See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uruguay relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 March 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.Presidente uruguayo pasa Navidad con los cascos azules de su país en RDC (in Spanish) 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 BeganNotes23 September 2011See Azerbaijan-Democratic Republic of the Congo relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 September 201124 November 1972See 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.August 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). DR Congo has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in Kinshasa.1963See Democratic Republic of the Congo–Indonesia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963.22 October 1975Both 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 BeganNotes2 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.

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.30 June 1960See 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.15 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.

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.