The DRC reiterated its commitment to a close diplomatic and strategic relationship with Russia during a meeting between Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. This exchange, described as “rich and fruitful” by the Congolese side, was held on the sidelines of the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, with the aim of further strengthening political and economic ties between the two nations.
Minister Kayikwamba Wagner stressed that the DRC considers Russia an essential partner in the context of an evolving multipolar world, recalling that Russia is “not isolated” on the international scene. She praised Russia’s recent successes within BRICS, whose expansion and dynamism, she said, demonstrate Moscow’s growing influence in world affairs.
Among the recent agreements, that concerning visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports has strengthened bilateral ties and demonstrates the desire of the two States to facilitate their cooperation. During the Sochi meeting, a new agreement on political consultations was signed, which makes it possible to strengthen coordination in sensitive international issues.
Ms. Kayikwamba Wagner also expressed the DRC’s gratitude for Russia’s support in the face of security challenges in the east of the country, where the situation remains unstable due to the presence of armed groups. “We highly value our cooperation, including in international forums such as the Security Council, where Russia plays a crucial role for peace and security in the DRC,” she said.
With a view to celebrating the anniversary of bilateral relations and the independence of the DRC in 2025, Ms. Kayikwamba Wagner invited Sergei Lavrov to visit Kinshasa next year. This event will mark 65 years of friendship between the two countries, coinciding with the anniversary of the Patrice Lumumba University, a strong symbol of the historical links between Kinshasa and Moscow. This visit planned for 2025 would be an opportunity to reflect on future joint projects and to put in place concrete initiatives to strengthen the economic, educational and security sectors between the two nations.
Relations between the DRC and Russia have undergone several notable developments in recent months. In March 2024, rumors circulated concerning a potential military cooperation agreement, which Kinshasa had however denied, specifying that a draft agreement, initiated in 1999, had not yet been materialized. In October 2022, the Russian Embassy in the DRC confirmed a free delivery of weapons and ammunition to the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), totaling more than 160 tonnes, aid aimed at strengthening the fight against armed groups in the east of the country.
