This article covers the political relationship between India and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): how the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describes it, visits by the DRC's President and ministers to India, visits from India to the DRC, and the bilateral mechanisms the two countries have set up. It is based on the MEA brief on India-DRC relations dated 10 April 2026.

How the brief describes the relationship

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and the DRC share cordial and friendly relations. India was among the first countries to establish a diplomatic mission in Kinshasa, in 1962.

The brief states that the DRC generally supports Indian candidatures at various international fora.

Visit by the President of the DRC

H.E. Mr. Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, visited India on 8-9 April 2008 and attended the 1st India-Africa Forum Summit. During the visit, he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh.

Visits by DRC foreign ministers

The brief lists a series of visits to India by the DRC's foreign ministers:

  • H.E. Mr. Ramazani Baya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited India from 2-4 February 2005 and again from 2-7 May 2006.
  • H.E. Mr. Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led a high-level delegation to India in October 2009, comprising the Minister of Planning and the Minister of Post, Telephones & Telecommunications besides senior advisers from key ministries. He participated in the India-Least Developed Countries Ministerial Conference in Delhi in February 2011.
  • H.E. Mr. Raymond Tshibanda N'Tungamulongo, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, visited India in May 2015, participated in the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi from 26-30 October 2015, and undertook a bilateral visit to India in August 2016.
  • H.E. Mr. Leonard She Okitundu Lundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, visited India in November 2017.

Other ministerial visits from the DRC

Other DRC ministers who visited India, as recorded in the brief, include:

  • H.E. Mr. Remi Henri Kuseyo Gatange, Minister of Transport and Communications, from 13-17 August 2007
  • H.E. Mr. Daniel Mukoko Samba, Vice Prime Minister in charge of Budget, who attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in February 2013
  • H.E. Mr. Kwet Mwan Kwet John, Minister for International Cooperation, in June 2017
  • H.E. Mr. Nicolas Kazadi, Minister of Finance, who visited India along with the Governor of Kasai Province in January-February 2023

Ministerial visits from India

The brief records a visit by Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Railways and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, who visited Kinshasa in July 2015 to hand over the invitation for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.

Parliamentary delegation of May 2025

An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation visited Kinshasa from 24-28 May 2025 as part of the diplomatic outreach initiative following 'Operation Sindoor'. The delegation comprised the following Members of Parliament and others:

  • Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, leader of the delegation
  • Ms. Bansuri Swaraj
  • Shri E.T. Mohammed Basheer
  • Shri Atul Garg
  • Dr. Sasmit Patra
  • Shri Manan Kumar Mishra
  • Shri S.S. Ahluwalia, former Minister of State
  • Ambassador (Retd.) Sujan Chinoy

In Kinshasa, the delegation met H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Transport; H.E. Ms. Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Mr. Vital Kamerhe, President of the National Assembly; H.E. Mr. Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, President of the Senate; and H.E. Prof. Berthold Ulungu, President of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly.

Bilateral institutional mechanisms

Foreign Office Consultations

An MoU to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was signed between India and the DRC in May 2010. The first FOC was held in New Delhi in April 2024. It was co-chaired by Shri Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (Central & West Africa Division), Ministry of External Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Theo Wabenga Kalebo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the FOC, both sides carried out a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, including strengthening of cooperation in trade and economic relations, mining, agriculture, development partnership, defence, science & technology, digital public infrastructure, green energy, culture, and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the UN and other multilateral fora.

Joint Commission

An agreement for setting up a Joint Commission for Political, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Socio-Cultural matters (JCM) between India and the DRC was signed in March 2008.