Interview with Edith Itoua, Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo to Germany

Berlin, Germany – A delegation of program coordinators from the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, composed of Rayan Tadrist, Esther Guinea Lozano, Dea Cristina Haderi, and Roberto de la Fuente García, was invited to the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in Berlin for an interview with Ambassador Edith Itoua. The interview provided an opportunity to ask focused questions about contemporary diplomatic issues, current economic and sustainability goals, and the growing role of cultural diplomacy in building bridges between peoples.

How does your embassy in Berlin currently contribute to the cultural outreach of the Republic of the Congo?

The Republic of the Congo has a very rich and diverse culture. In Berlin, the embassy is actively committed to promoting this heritage. In the field of visual arts, a project is underway to exhibit works from the Poto-Poto School of Painting, which is a pillar of contemporary Congolese art. Ambassador Itoua has expressed her wish for these artworks to be exhibited in Germany.

Regarding cultural traditions, the Republic of the Congo values and preserves the cultures of forest populations, such as the Pygmies, who are one of Congo’s indigenous peoples. The Congolese government has launched an initiative to provide education to Pygmy children. Ambassador Itoua would like to promote the Ndima singing group, composed of Pygmies renowned for their unique voices. A new European tour is planned, and the ambassador strongly hopes they will perform in Berlin.

How does the Republic of the Congo use cultural diplomacy to strengthen its intercultural relations, particularly with Germany?

An important way of promoting Congolese culture abroad is by sending Congolese students to foreign countries for technical and higher education. This allows for openness to the world and strengthens skills. The historic diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Congo and Germany, which began at the time of independence in 1960, focused on technical assistance and German investments in Congo.

When the world was divided into two blocs, Congo faced difficulties in training its technicians despite its resources. At that time, ties were stronger with the GDR and the Eastern bloc, promoting academic and cultural exchanges. Many Congolese students thus studied in Eastern Europe, benefiting from free education. Ambassador Itoua highlighted that she studied the Russian language in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg.

More recently, during her official visit to Bulgaria for the presentation of her letters of credence, the ambassador was informed that two Congolese ministers had studied there, which shows lasting links and a source of pride for both countries.

More generally, Congolese students abroad serve as true cultural ambassadors, spreading their culture in their host countries. This cultural diplomacy also manifests through intercultural marriages, which promote mutual understanding.

Do you have any recent accomplishments from your embassy that you would like to share with us?

Since taking office in 2023, Ambassador Itoua has led several major initiatives.

In 2024, the ambassador co-chaired the network of Francophone embassies in Germany, facilitating the organization of the Francophonie celebration in Berlin. This event, held at the Maison des Francophonies, brought together numerous Francophone diplomatic representations and highlighted Congo’s know-how and culture to the German public.

Another success mentioned during this interview was the organization of an event dedicated to Congolese rumba, held in collaboration with the French Embassy and the Institut français in Berlin. This event helped promote Congolese rumba, an intangible cultural heritage listed by UNESCO, and was a great success.

What are the current priority sectors for economic development and foreign investment in the Republic of the Congo? And how is sustainability integrated?

The key sectors of the National Development Plan, which attract the attention of international investors, are energy, oil, gas, tourism, and the protection and preservation of the environment.

In terms of tourism and environment, sustainable development is at the heart of priorities, particularly with the protection of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the conservation of Congolese forests, which act as vital carbon sinks and are rich in biodiversity. The embassy aims to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of the Congo and Germany in this field.

At the same time, agriculture represents another strategic sector. Despite the fertility of the land, the country struggles to achieve food self-sufficiency. The goal is to develop large-scale agriculture, with opportunities for international investment, including from Germany.

The oil sector remains the country's main resource, but its export in raw form without local refining capacity creates economic dependence and vulnerability to price fluctuations. The government therefore aims to diversify the economy and to develop the local transformation of raw materials, including oil, gold, and coltan.

In the process of diversifying the Congolese economy, the role of youth is fundamental. With a very young population, 70% under 30 years old, Congo seeks to build university partnerships and promote entrepreneurship, especially in the digital sector, which is still not widely taught in schools but is increasingly essential for job creation, technological development, and innovation.

Furthermore, the country is very interested in renewable energies such as hydrogen, wind, and gas, while placing particular importance on solar energy. Congo already has hydroelectric and gas infrastructure, and further development is ongoing. Finally, the Republic of the Congo also has wood resources that are important for its economy. To add value to local wood resources, Congo wishes to draw inspiration from Austria’s 'zero waste' principle, applied in its wood processing industry, where processing is waste-free and even sawdust is reused for heating.

Thus, the strengthening of relations with Germany notably focuses on environmental preservation and sustainable development, with steadily growing momentum.

What actions is the embassy taking to support the integration of the Congolese community in Germany?

The Congolese diaspora in Germany is mainly composed of students who chose to stay.

The ambassador maintains close contact with these individuals, whose familiarity with German society is a real asset in understanding the challenges faced by the Congolese diaspora. Regular meetings foster exchange and mutual solidarity.

Moreover, the embassy has worked to resolve the difficulties related to obtaining and renewing Congolese passports. Previously, obtaining a Congolese passport in Germany was very difficult because applications had to be submitted in France, posing challenges for the diaspora. Today, the embassy in Berlin is able to accept applications directly from Congolese nationals living in Germany.

All of these efforts aim to build a bridge between Congolese and European societies, thus promoting integration while preserving ties with Congo.

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