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'{{Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}} {{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=November 2013}} 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 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|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 [[Uganda]]n, [[Burundi]]an, and [[Rwanda]]n 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{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}. 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 [[United States|U.S.]]-military (as covered under [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court|Article 98]]). ==Disputes – international== Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a [[Second Congo War|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 (ethnicity)|Hema]] and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in [[Great Lakes region (Africa)|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 (drug)|cannabis]], mostly for domestic consumption. While rampant [[political corruption|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. ==Bilateral relations== ===Africa=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Country ! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began !Notes |- valign="top" |{{flag|Algeria}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Algeria has an embassy in [[Kinshasa]]. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Algiers]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Angola}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Angola–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations]] * Angola has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Luanda]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Burundi}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Burundi has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Bujumbura]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Central African Republic}}||<!--Date started-->|| * CAR has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Bangui]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Chad}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Chad has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[N'Djamena]] and a consulate in [[Moundou]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Côte d'Ivoire has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Abidjan]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Egypt}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Cairo]]. * Egypt has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Republic of the Congo relations]] * Congo has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Brazzaville]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Kenya}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Kenya relations]] * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Nairobi]]. * Kenya has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Namibia}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo-Namibia relations]] * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Windhoek]]. * Namibia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Nigeria}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Abuja]]. * Nigeria has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Rwanda}}||<!--Date started-->|| Rwandan [[List of Presidents of Rwanda|President]] [[Paul Kagame]] met with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Joseph Kabila in [[Goma]] on 6 August 2009.<ref name="Kagame and Kabila restore ties"/> It was the first presidential meeting between the two countries for 13 years,<ref name="'New era' for DR Congo and Rwanda"/> 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.<ref name="Kagame and Kabila restore ties"/> The pair of presidents spent more than two hours in the company of each other and "reviewed all issues of common interest".<ref name="Kagame and Kabila restore ties">{{cite web|url=http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=136&art_id=nw20090806230238968C709941|title=Kagame and Kabila restore ties|date=2009-08-07|access-date=2009-08-10|publisher=[[Independent Online (South Africa)|IOL]]}}</ref> Kabila referred to it as "the first giant step forward" in what was referred to as an "all new era".<ref name="'New era' for DR Congo and Rwanda">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8188715.stm|title='New era' for DR Congo and Rwanda|date=2009-08-06|access-date=2009-08-10|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> One month previous to the meeting both countries had appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals.<ref name="Kagame and Kabila restore ties"/><ref name="'New era' for DR Congo and Rwanda"/> In August 2013, Rwanda accused Congolese forces of persistently shelling Congo’s territory after a flare-up of fighting in the eastern Congo.<ref>{{cite web| title=Rwanda says Congolese forces shelling its territory | author=Jenny Clover| publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/29/us-congo-democratic-rwanda-idUSBRE97S0T920130829| date=29 August 2013}}</ref> * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Kigali]]. * Rwanda has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Senegal}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Dakar]]. * Senegal has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|South Africa}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Pretoria]]. * South Africa has an embassy in Kinshasa and a consulate-general in [[Lubumbashi]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Tanzania}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Dar es Salaam]] and a consulate-general in [[Kigoma]]. * Tanzania has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Uganda}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Kampala]]. * Uganda has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Zambia}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Lusaka]]. * Zambia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |} ===Americas=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Country ! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began !Notes |- valign="top" |{{flag|Argentina}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Argentina is accredited to the DR Congo from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Buenos Aires]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Brazil}}||<!--Date started-->1968||See [[Brazil–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations]] * Brazil has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Brasilia]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Canada}}||<!--Date started-->1965||See [[Canada–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations]] Formal diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1965.<ref>Brown, J. C. Gordon. 2000. ''Blazes along a diplomatic trail: a memoir of four posts in the Canadian foreign service'', Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, p. 158-180, {{isbn|1552125246}}</ref> 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.<ref>Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. "Aggregate Aid Statistics: ODA by recipient by country", OECD International Development Statistics (database). {{doi|10.1787/data-00061-en}} (accessed March 12, 2011).</ref> 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.<ref>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.</ref> * Canada has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an [[Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Ottawa|embassy]] in [[Ottawa]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Cuba}}||<!--Date started-->|| * Cuba has an embassy in Kinshasa. * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Havana]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Mexico}}||<!--Date started-->31 July 1975||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Mexico relations]] Both nations established diplomatic relations on 31 July 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senado.gob.mx/sgsp/gaceta/63/1/2016-04-26-1/assets/documentos/Dict_Rel_Ext_ETIOPIA.pdf|title=Mexico's relations with Africa: DR Congo (in Spanish)|website=senado.gob.mx|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> * DR Congo does not have an accreditation to Mexico. * Mexico is accredited to DR Congo from its embassy in [[Addis Ababa]], [[Ethiopia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/etiopia/|title=Embajada de México en Etiopía|website=embamex.sre.gob.mx|language=es-es|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> |- valign="top" |{{flag|United States}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo-United States relations]] 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.]].<ref name="DC">{{Cite web|url=https://ambardcusa.org|title=République Démocratique du Congo {{!}}|website=ambardcusa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> * United States has an embassy in Kinshasa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cd.usembassy.gov|title=U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|website=U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> |- valign="top" |{{flag|Uruguay}}||<!--Date started-->|| * 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=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Country ! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began !Notes |- valign="top" |{{flag|Armenia}}||<!--Date started-->10 November 2015|| Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 2015. |- valign="top" |{{flag|China}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[China-Democratic Republic of the Congo relations]] 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]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|India}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–India relations]] * DR Congo has an embassy in [[New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy21096/|title=Democratic Republic of the Congo Embassy in India|website=embassypages.com|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> * India has an embassy in Kinshasa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mea.gov.in/indian-mission.htm?39/39/0|title=MEA - Indian Missions Abroad - Indian Mission|website=mea.gov.in|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> |- valign="top" |{{flag|Israel}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Tel Aviv]]. * Israel is accredited to the DR Congo from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in [[Jerusalem]]. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Japan}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Tokyo]]. * Japan has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Lebanon}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo is accredited to Lebanon from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt. * Lebanon has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|South Korea}}||<!--Date started-->1 April 1963|| Diplomatic relations were established between South Korea and the DR Congo on 1 April 1963.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/middleeast/countries/20070804/1_24480.jsp?menu=m_30_50|title=Countries and Regions > Middle East and Africa > List of the Countries|last=Korea|first=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of|work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea|access-date=2017-07-20|language=ko}}</ref> * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Seoul]]. * South Korea has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Turkey}}||<!--Date started-->1974<ref name="auto30">{{Cite web | url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/relations-between-turkey-and-the-democratic-republic-of-congo.en.mfa| title= Relations between Turkey and the Democratic Republic of Congo}}</ref>|| * [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] has an embassy in [[Ankara]].<ref name="auto30"/> *Turkey has an embassy in [[Kinshasa]].<ref name="auto30"/> *Trade volume between the two countries was 54.7 million USD in 2019.<ref name="auto30"/> |} ===Europe=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="width:15%;"| Country ! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began !Notes |- valign="top" |{{flag|Belgium}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Belgium–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations]] * Belgium has an embassy in [[Kinshasa]] and a consulate-general in [[Lubumbashi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://countries.diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/republique_democratique_du_congo/|title=La Belgique en République Démocratique du Congo {{!}} Taalkeuze {{!}} Choix de langue {{!}} Sprachauswahl {{!}} Language Choice|website=countries.diplomatie.belgium.be|language=en|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Brussels]] and a consulate-general in [[Antwerp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambardc.eu|title=Bienvenue sur le site de l'Ambassade de RD Congo à Bruxelles|website=Site Officiel de l'Ambassade de la RDCONGO près le Benelux et de l'Union Européenne|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> |- valign="top" |{{flag|France}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Paris]]. * France has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Germany}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Berlin]]. * Germany has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Greece}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Greece relations]] Both countries are full members of [[Francophonie]]. In July 2009, the Greek government pledged USD 500,000 through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for humanitarian assistance to Congo.<ref>http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=7007015&maindocimg=7002746&service=96</ref> * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Athens]]. * Greece has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Italy}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Rome]]. * Italy has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Netherlands}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[The Hague]]. * Netherlands has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Norway}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Norway relations]] * 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. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Poland}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Warsaw]]. * Poland is accredited to the DR Congo from its embassy in Luanda, Angola. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Portugal}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Lisbon]]. * Portugal has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Russia}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Russia relations]] *DR Congo has an embassy in [[Moscow]]. * Russia has an [[Embassy of Russia in Kinshasa|embassy in Kinshasa]].<ref>[http://www.drc.mid.ru/ Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kinshasa]</ref> |- valign="top" |{{flag|Serbia}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Belgrade]]. * Serbia has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Spain}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–Spain relations]] * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Madrid]]. * Spain has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|Sweden}}||<!--Date started-->|| * DR Congo has an embassy in [[Stockholm]]. * Sweden has an embassy in Kinshasa. |- valign="top" |{{flag|United Kingdom}}||<!--Date started-->||See [[Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations]] * DR Congo has an embassy in [[London]]. * United Kingdom has an embassy in Kinshasa. |} ==See also== * [[List of diplomatic missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] * [[List of diplomatic missions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo}} {{DRC topics}} {{Africa in topic|Foreign relations of}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Relations Of The Democratic Republic Of The Congo}} [[Category:Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo| ]]'