Democratic Republic of the Congo–Germany relations

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Democratic Republic of the Congo–Germany relations
Map indicating locations of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Germany

DR Congo
Germany

Democratic Republic of the Congo–Germany relations are primarily characterized by the development aid that Germany provides in the DR Congo. Germany is one of the most important donor countries to the DR Congo.[1]

History

The German explorers

Congo Conference in Berlin in 1884/85, the Leopold founded the Congo Free State, which he ruled as his private property. The brutal exploitation of the Congolese population under Leopold's rule became known as Congo atrocities and claimed, according to estimates, between 5 and 15 million Congolese lives.[3] When the cruelty of his rule became internationally known, he was forced to cede the Congo to the Belgian state in 1908.[3]

After the country's independence, the independent Congo and the

German Democratic Republic (GDR). In 1978, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit began its work in the country, which had been renamed to Zaire.[1]

In 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila took power in the country, overthrowing longtime despot Mobutu Sese Seko. The country was then renamed from Zaire to the Democratic Republic of Congo. His son and successor Joseph Kabila visited Germany in 2002, followed by another visit from him two years later. In 2015, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the cities of Kinshasa and Goma, and a visit by Development Minister Gerd Müller followed a year later.[2][1]

Economic relations

A bilateral investment agreement between the two countries has existed since 1969, and in 2008 the German-Congolese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chambre de commerce et de industrie germano-congolaise, CCIGC) was founded. However, economic relations are barely developed due to the country's unstable situation and many armed conflicts. So far, hardly any German companies have become active in the DR Congo, which has large raw material deposits.[1]

In 2021, the joint trade volume amounted to just under 223 million euros, of which 102 million were German exports to DR Congo.

chemical and industrial products to the country, it imports mainly food and raw materials
in return.

Development aid

Germany is the fourth-largest donor of development assistance (

Official Development Assistance) to the country after the United States, France, and the European Union. Between 2015 and 2019, assistance amounted to 400 million euros.[1] Development cooperation features three priority areas: peace and social cohesion, environment and natural resources, and growth and sustainable employment.[5]

Successful joint projects implemented from 2008 to 2020 include the construction of drinking water points for 1.5 million people, the adoption of a national strategy against child labor, the opening of bank accounts for 1.8 million small businesses, and the construction of 800 km of roads, 120 schools, and 44 health centers.[5]

Culture

In 2013, the Society for German–Congolese Friendship e.V. was founded in

Mühlhausen.[6] The Goethe-Institut has maintained a liaison office in Kinshasa since 2015. Also active in the country are the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.[1]

Migration

In 2010, just under 10,000 migrants from the DRC were living in Germany.[7] Well-known German Congolese are the football players Cédric Makiadi, Ridle Baku, Elias Kachunga, Reinhold Yabo, and Richard Sukuta-Pasu.

Diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Amt, Auswärtiges. "Deutschland und die Demokratische Republik Kongo: Bilaterale Beziehungen". Auswärtiges Amt (in German). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Kongo (Demokratische Republik, Zaire) – pangloss.de". www.pangloss.de. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ^
    ISSN 2195-1349
    , retrieved 13 October 2022
  4. ^ "Rangfolge der Handelspartner im Außenhandel" (PDF). Statistisches Bundesamt. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b Auswärtiges Amt. "Entwicklungspolitische Zusammenarbeit mit der Demokratischen Republik Kongo" (in German). Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. ^ GmbH, GBI-Genios Deutsche Wirtschaftsdatenbank. "Gesellschaft für Deutsch-Kongolesische Freundschaft e.V. in Mühlhausen , Kraichgau | Firmenauskunft GENIOS". GENIOS Firmendatenbank für Deutschland (in German). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Mapping afrikanischer Communities in Deutschland – Eine Analyse von Daten des Statistischen Bundesamtes" (PDF). Robert Koch‐Institut. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  8. ^ Auswärtiges Amt. "Deutsche Vertretungen in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo" (in German). Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  9. ^ Auswärtiges Amt. "Vertretungen der Demokratischen Republik Kongo in Deutschland" (in German). Retrieved 13 October 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Germany.
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