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Sub Saharan Africa

Congo

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Map of Congo Last reviewed: 17 December 2007

Country information

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Sassou-Nguesso has very close relations with Angola which intervened decisively in the 1997-99 civil war. Congo has traditional ties with neighbouring Gabon, where the same ethnic groups are separated by the common border. President Sassou-Nguesso's daughter is married to President Bongo of Gabon. The traditionally poor relations with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have improved in recent years, although tensions remain. Congo, Angola and DRC now cooperate closely on border security. The Congo’s closest relationships are within the CEMAC grouping although President Sassou-Nguesso has also built alliances across the continent, developing contacts with Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. President Sassou-Nguesso was elected as Chairman of the African Union in January 2006 for 1 year.

France is Congo's primary international partner, and the strongest supporter of the Sassou-Nguesso government. French companies retain significant investments in most sectors, most significantly in the oil industry. The expatriate population before the civil war of 1997 was 8,500, mostly French, although it may have halved since. While the majority of Congolese exports, largely oil, go to China (30%), the US (18.2%) and Taiwan (16.8%), France occupies top place as a supplier of the country’s imports. It is also the single largest bilateral aid donor.

On 9 July 2004, Congo was expelled from the Kimberley Process, an international diamond trading initiative established to counter trade in illicit “conflict diamonds”. Congo was expelled for failing to give an acceptable reason for why its exports far exceeded its known production. At that time, Congo’s domestic production was 55,000 carats but it exported 5.2 million carats.The Kimberley Process accounts for 98% of global diamond trade, and expulsion meant that Congo lost out on US$300m per annum of revenue. Congo was readmitted in 2007 after convincing the Kimberley Secretariat that it was undertaking necessary reforms.

About the Kimberley process

Congo's Relations with the UK

Diplomatic Representation

The UK is represented in the Republic of Congo by HE Nick Kay, resident in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Republic of Congo is represented in the UK by HE Monsieur Henri Marie Joseph Lopes, resident in Paris, France.

Visits

There have been no recent bilateral visits.

Country information

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Travel Advice

Travel Advice: Democratic Republic of Congo

Read about our work in DRC

Standing proud in Kinshasa

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Contacts

Congo

Address:

37 bis Rue Paul Valéry
75116 Paris
France


Telephone:

(00) 33 1 45 00 6057

Fax:

(00) 33 1 40 67 1733

Office hours:

 

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