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http://interaffairs.ru
Author : I. Evdokimov
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Democratic Republic
of Congo
THE YEAR 1960 has come to be known as the Year of Africa as 17
states of the Black Continent became independent that year, throw-
ing off the chains of colonialism. Among them was the Belgian
Congo, the then name of today's Democratic Republic of Congo
(DR Congo), the world's most populated Francophone country and,
in terms of area, the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Bel-
gian Congo became independent on June 30, 1960. Today, June 30 is
DR Congo's main national holiday.
A week after this Central African country was declared independent,
the Soviet Union recognized it and established diplomatic relations
with it at ambassadorial level.
During the 55 years that have elapsed since that date, July 7, 1960,
relations between Moscow and Kinshasa have been through ups and downs, stagnations and re-
vitalizations, tensions and detentes.
During the 32-year tenure of the pro-Western leader Mobutu, relations between our countries
remained tense.
A new page was opened in relations between Russia and DR Congo in 1997 after the collapse
of the regime of the dictator Mobutu, who was overthrown by a former ally of Lumumba, Lau-
rent-Desire Kabila.
As a result of systematic work, the Congolese leadership has drawn closer to Russia in dealing
with key problems of building a multipolar world order and begun to show more consideration
for our arguments in pursuing its line at international organizations, primarily the United Nations,
including on highly sensitive issues such as nuclear disarmament (the nuclear programs of Iran
and North Korea), regional conflicts, Russia's role in post-Soviet space, and Abkhazia and South
Ossetia.
Despite the great potential for boosting Congolese-Russian economic relations, Russian business
is still being cautious because of the ambiguous image of DR Congo. Just a few Russian com-
panies are doing business in that country: Russian Special Alloys Asset Management, which is
involved in a niobium concentrate production project, Valko Mining Investment, which special-
izes in the production of nonferrous and rare earth metals, and IFC Metropol, an investment
company that has run into difficulties in setting up Mining Bank of Congo, an investment bank.
In summing up these thoughts about DR Congo and our relations with it, it seems that bringing
back the name Patrice Lumumba to the People's Friendship University of Russia, something
that many Congolese dream of, would make our country closer and more understandable to the
Africans and symbolize Russia's return to the Black Continent after hasty withdrawal from it in
the early 1990s.
The Democratic Republic of Congo: Marking the 55th Anniver-
sary of Diplomatic Relations