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Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uruguay relations

DR Congolese–Uruguayan relations
Map indicating locations of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uruguay

DR Congo
Uruguay

Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uruguay relations are the bilateral relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uruguay.

History

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Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 31 March 1984.[1]

Uruguayan soldiers patrol the village of Pinga to maintain security after the withdrawal of militias, police, and FARDC forces.
Uruguayan Battalion (URUBATT) peacekeepers parade in Goma, D.R. Congo.

In late March 2001, Uruguayan troops were deployed as UN peacekeepers to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), during the Second Congo War, initially stationed in the city of Goma.[2] However, the Uruguayan military presence has remained continuously deployed after the conflict.[3] The first Uruguayan unit deployed was the Reinforced Rifle Company “Uruguay IV”, composed of 223 personnel.[4] It was also the very first UN-designated subunit to arrive in the region.[4] Shortly thereafter, the permanent “Uruguay Battalion” was established, and the “Uruguay I” company, led by National Army engineers, was tasked with providing potable water for the United Nations, NGOs, and the local civilian population.[5]

Uruguay is among the countries contributing the highest number of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.[6] Its mission in the Congo remains the longest-standing deployment of the Uruguayan Army abroad.[4]

In late April 2004, Jorge Batlle became the first Uruguayan president to pay an official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[7][8] During his visit, he met with President Joseph Kabila and visited the contingent of Uruguayan troops deployed in the UN peacekeeping mission.[9] He also toured local facilities and declared that Uruguay's participation in the mission was a “moral obligation”.[10][11]

In July 2004, a delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo visited Uruguay to follow up on agreements related to water treatment plants, agricultural matters, and trade relations between the two countries. The Congolese officials held meetings with representatives from Uruguay's Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Armed Forces, and visited companies specializing in the production of water treatment systems.[12]

As a member of the United Nations Security Council, in March 2016 and 2017, Uruguay advocated for maintaining the number of personnel deployed in the United Nations Stabilization Mission, during discussions on the renewal of its mandate and a recommendation to reduce troop levels.[13] In March 2016, Uruguayan Vice President Raúl Fernando Sendic paid an official visit to the DR Congo, accompanied by the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Gerardo Amarilla.[14] During their stay, they held meetings with President Joseph Kabila and legislative authorities, and visited the Uruguayan troops deployed in Goma.[15]

Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou on a visit to Uruguayan troops in the DR Congo, 2021

In December 2021, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou visited the country's deployed forces in the DR Congo during the Christmas celebrations.[16] Accompanied by Minister of Defense Javier García, he spent Christmas Eve with Army personnel in Goma and joined Air Force members for lunch in Bukavu on Christmas Day.[17][18]

In August 2025, a Congolese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, accompanied by the Ministers of Culture and Foreign Affairs, paid a visit to Uruguay, where they held a meeting with President Yamandú Orsi and other Uruguayan officials.[19][20] The authorities of both countries signed agreements on innovation and culture and expressed their willingness to advance commercial cooperation.[21]

High-level visits

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High-level visits from the DR Congo to Uruguay

High-level visits from Uruguay to the DR Congo

Diplomatic missions

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  • The DR Congo is represented in Uruguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina).[28]
  • Uruguay is represented in the DR Congo through its embassy in Pretoria (South Africa).[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Cumplimos 41 años de relaciones diplomáticas con la República Democrática del Congo el 31 de marzo" (in Spanish). 31 March 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  2. ^ "20 años de Uruguay en Congo: Ejército Uruguayo publicó documental". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Conflicto en el Congo: las tropas uruguayas continúan cumpliendo su misión | La Mañana" (in Spanish). 29 January 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "MISIONES OPERATIVAS DE PAZ ACTUALES". wwwf.ejercito.mil.uy (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  5. ^ "20 años en el corazón de África | Ejército Nacional". www.ejercito.mil.uy. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  6. ^ Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. "Background Note: Uruguay". US Department of State. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  7. ^ "El primer mandatario inicia viaje al Congo". EL PAIS. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Batlle pide a dirigentes de la RDC "continuar hasta el final" el proceso de paz". EL PAIS. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Batlle se reunió con el presidente del Congo". archivo.presidencia.gub.uy. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Batlle dijo que es "obligación moral" de Uruguay mantener presencia en el Congo". EL PAIS. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Batlle instó al Congo a mantener la paz". EL PAIS. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Batlle recibió a misión oficial del Congo". archivo.presidencia.gub.uy. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  13. ^ "La Política Exterior de Uruguay hacia los países africanos durante los gobiernos del Frente Amplio (2005-2017): ¿construcción de nuevas relaciones Sur-Sur?" (PDF). Ciencias Sociales (in Spanish): 225. 2019.
  14. ^ "Sendic responde a críticas por viajes al exterior: "Lo seguiré haciendo"". EL PAIS. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Sendic propuso acuerdo comercial y educativo con el Congo". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  16. ^ "President Lacalle Pou visits Uruguayan military in Democratic Republic of Congo". The Rio Times. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Presidente Lacalle Pou y ministro García compartieron la Navidad con los efectivos uruguayos en Congo". Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Lacalle Pou en el Congo: "Venimos a pasar las fiestas con ustedes, con esa gran familia que es nuestra patria"". EL PAIS. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Palabras del ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Mario Lubetkin". Presidencia Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Orsi recibió a autoridades del Congo, que agradecieron por ayuda "histórica" de tropas". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Uruguay y la República Democrática del Congo buscan avanzar en cooperación comercial". Portal Medios Públicos (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Orsi recibió a delegación del Congo: canciller dijo que el presidente visitará el país africano y apuntaron a desarrollar el comercio". Teledoce.com (in Spanish). 6 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Uruguay y la República Democrática del Congo acuerdan cooperación en cultura e innovación". Ministerio de Educación y Cultura (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Uruguay apunta a fortalecer las relaciones comerciales con la República Democrática del Congo". Ambito (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Ministro Rosadilla viajó al Congo". LARED21 (in Spanish). 10 October 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Visita del Sr. Vicepresidente Raúl Sendic, a la República Democrática del Congo y a la Misión". Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  27. ^ "Luis Lacalle Pou viajó al Congo para pasar las fiestas junto a las tropas uruguayas en misión". infobae (in European Spanish). 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Misiones Diplomáticas Permanentes" [Permanent Diplomatic Missions]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay (in Spanish). 11 April 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Misiones diplomaticás del Uruguay en el Exterior". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.