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Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations

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Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations
Map indicating locations of Democratic Republic of the Congo and United Kingdom

DR Congo
United Kingdom
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi in London, October 2022.

Democratic Republic of the Congo–United Kingdom relations encompass the diplomatic, economic, and historical interactions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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.[1]

History

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Along with the United States the United Kingdom was a supporter of the Mobutu Sese Seko regime in Zaire due to the regime's anti-communist stance.

Development and Economic relations

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a recipient of UK Aid, in 2014 the Department for International Development spent £162.2 million on programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2]

Diplomatic relations

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The United Kingdom established its first Diplomatic mission with the Congo Free State in 1902 when a British Consulate was built in the then capital Boma. A vice-consulate later opened in Léopoldville in 1906. In 1923 Léopoldville was proclaimed the capital of the Belgian Congo and in 1930 the British Consulate in Boma closed and the vice-consulate in Léopoldville became the consulate.[3]

  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains an embassy in London.[4]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its embassy in Kinshasa.[5]

President Mobutu made a state visit to the United Kingdom in December 1973.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (17 July 2023). "Country and regional development partnership summaries". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Congo (Democratic Republic)". DFID. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Congo (Democratic Republic)". Room for Diplomacy. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo". Diplomat Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  5. ^ "British Embassy Kinshasa". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. ^ "President Mobutu of Zaire's State visit to Britain, 1973". Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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