About the Embassy

Welcome to the DRC Embassy in Washington DC!

As the Ambassador, I am honored by the opportunity and proud to represent our Government in the United States of America. In this role, I have the responsibility of advancing the Democratic Republic of Congo strategic partnership with the Government of the United States of America, and ensuring our citizens’ interests. While committed to strengthening our bilateral relations, I am serving as the primary liaison between the U.S. and the DRC Government in Kinshasa.

From its nation to its natural resources, the DRC is a rich country that has progressively worked to advance democratic values and has become an emerging market economy with immense potential for Foreign Direct Investment and Diaspora engagement in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and tourism. These are hallmarks of a nation that aims to prosper and build a stronger future along with regional partners, and increase its development and investment in the DRC. We are part of the promise for intra-Africa trade and we continue to develop the DRC to uplift the 86 million Congolese people.

Based in Washington, DC and with regular travels throughout the United States, on behalf of the DRC Government and the Embassy team, I welcome you to Embassy website.

 

Sincerely,

AMBASSADOR Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba

The Ambassador : Excellence Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba 

Photo: Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States of America, and Joseph R. Biden Jr, the 46th President of the United States of America.
Photo: Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States of America, and Joseph R. Biden Jr, the 46th President of the United States of America.

Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba was appointed on January 11, 2022, by President Félix Tshisekedi as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States of America. Being the 18th Ambassador representing the Democractic Republic of the Congo, Mrs. Lowumba is a career diplomat having served for over 40 years the Government of the DRC including as a Minister of Industry, Trade, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts, as an Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the DRC to the Republic of Gabon, and as the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Committee for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Prior to taking the position of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Washington DC, Mrs. Lowumba, with her extensive diplomatic experience and expertise in international financial institutions where she led the preparation, negotiation and drafting of numerous bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements, was in the private sector as senior legal consultant taking on the responsibility of mediation, analysis and evaluation, and mobilization of resources.

Beginning her professional career in 1972, Ambassador Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba began her career as a diplomat by joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where she worked as a legal adviser to the minister, where she participated in the drafting and negotiation of several bilateral agreements (France-Congo cooperation agreements, international law of the sea agreements, etc.) and led in the negotiations of the Lomé I agreement (industrial cooperation and sugar protocol). Her extensive diplomatic career includes her significant role as a legal and diplomatic attaché to the Presidency of the People’s Republic of Congo Brazzaville following her outstanding diplomatic functions at the National School of Administration in Brazzaville, was a Professor of international public law,  served as an Economic Counselor at the Embassy of the DRC to the Benelux and the EEC with jurisdiction over the Scandinavian countries, lead as the Head of Administration of the Center for Industrial Development ACP-EEC (CDI) in Brussels in charge of the first industrial forum for Africa (Douala 1978). Ambassador Lowumba also served as the World Health Organization (WHO) at UNIDO, the Special Advisor for Africa in charge of resource mobilization with the European Union in Brussels, and the key coordinator of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Ambassador Mrs. Lowumba has a Doctor of Law degree with a specialization in international law from the University of Brussels (ULB) in Belgium and is married to Mr René Mathey who she met while in Universite Libre de Bruxelle (ULB).

 

The Embassy will be closed during these days.

Please note: When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is usually observed on the following Monday.

DRC Holidays 

Friday, January 4th, 2019: Day of the Martyrs 

Thursday, January 16th, 2020: President Laurent Desiree Kabila Day 

Friday, January 17th, 2020: P.M. Patrice Emery Lumumba Day 

Friday, May 1st, 2020:  Labor Day 

Monday, May 18th, 2020: Liberation Day 

Tuesday, June 30th, 2020: Independence Day (DRC, Sunday June 30th)

Friday, July 31st, 2020: Parents Day (DRC)

Global

Wednesday, January 1st, 2020 – New Year’s Day

Tuesday, December 25th, 2020 – Christmas Day

USA Holidays 

Monday, January 20th, 2020: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (USA)

Monday, February 17th, 2020: Washington’s Birthday (USA)

Monday, May 25th, 2020: Memorial Day (USA)

Friday, July 3rd, 2020: Independence Day (USA)

Monday, September 7th, 2020: Labor Day (USA)

Monday, October 12th, 2020: Columbus Day/ US Indigenous People’s Day (USA)

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020: Veterans Day (USA)

Thursday, November 26th, 2020: Thanksgiving Day (USA)

Please note:
  1. For the USA – *Inauguration Day is an eleventh holiday designated by Congress for observance every four years on January 20 following a U. S. presidential election. It is only observed by government employees in Washington D.C. and the border counties of Maryland and Virginia.* 
  2. When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is usually observed on the following Monday. 
  3. Due to inclement weather during the winter months, the embassy is closed on certain days in accordance with the Federal government guidelines for snow and dismissal procedures. We advise all visitors to consult the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) website for days when government is closed. Visitors may click on the following link

OUR CONSULAR SERVICES

Visa application drop-off: Monday to Friday

From 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Visa application pick-up: Monday to Friday

From 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

VISA | PASSPORT | TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Visa for all travelers including foreign applicants, passport or travel document for Congolese Nationals, legalization of documents and power of attorney.

Application Info
CIVIL AFFAIRS FOR DIASPORA CONGOLESE

The DRC Government is committed to facilitating the travels of Congolese Nationals living abroad and the Embassy in the US will assist Congolese Nationals with DRC Passport issuance, renewals and “Tenant-Lieu”.

We are here to serve
THE EMBASSY

Ambassador François Nkuna Balumuene has been appointed by President Joseph Kabila and is responsible for the direction of the Embassy and its consulates in the U.S. He has the responsibility of representing the interests of the DRC and its citizens while advancing our nations’ bilateral relations and serving as the primary liaison between the U.S. and the DRC government in Kinshasa.

Learn about the Embassy
INVESTING IN THE DRC

The DRC’s investment agency namely the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI), provides investment facilitation services for initial investments over $200,000 and is mandated to simplify the investment process, make procedures more transparent, assist new foreign investors and improve the image of the DRC as an investment destination.

Info from laws to industries
ABOUT THE DRC

As the second-largest country on the African continent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is emerging as a stable and promising leader in Africa, with improved security, a growing economy, and a commitment to democratic governance.

Learn about the DRC
DRC REPRESENTATIONS

The DRC Government is committed to assisting with Visa for visitors and Investors as well as passport and Tenant Lieu for it's Congolese Nationals leaving abroad. We are found in many countries to make your DRC consular process seamless.

Find out where we are

Meet Our EMBASSY Divisions

The Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo represents the DRC interests’ in the United States of America. The Embassy staff engages interested stakeholders on a range of diplomatic, security and economic issues related to the DRC and the U.S.A. while providing consular assistance to Congolese nationals, investors and those seeking to travel to the DRC.

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