President Félix Tshisekedi has called on Congolese citizens living in Russia to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo with pride, excellence and patriotism while serving as a bridge between their homeland and their country of residence.
MOSCOW — November 2, 2026
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has urged members of the Congolese community in Russia to become true ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through their conduct, academic success and commitment to their homeland.
The Head of State delivered the message during a meeting with Congolese citizens in Moscow on Friday, October 30, on the sidelines of his participation in the third Russia–Africa Summit.
“I ask you to be true ambassadors of your country, the DRC,” President Tshisekedi told the community, according to the Agence Congolaise de Presse.
The meeting created a direct link between the presidency and Congolese nationals living abroad, giving the President an opportunity to thank them for their welcome, listen to the concerns of the community and explain the progress being made at home.
Representing Congo with Pride
President Tshisekedi presented the diaspora as an important part of the country’s international image.
Congolese citizens living abroad interact daily with universities, employers, businesses, public institutions and local communities. Through their achievements and behaviour, they can help others better understand the DRC, its culture, its ambitions and the talent of its people.
The President encouraged the community to continue demonstrating love for the country and to represent it with dignity. His message placed national pride alongside personal responsibility: every Congolese success abroad can contribute to the reputation of the nation.
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Tshisekedi Urges Congolese in Russia to Be DRC Ambassadors
Nov 2, 2026
Nov 2, 2026
9 min read
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President Félix Tshisekedi has called on Congolese citizens living in Russia to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo with pride, excellence and patriotism while serving as a bridge between their homeland and their country of residence.
MOSCOW — November 2, 2026
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has urged members of the Congolese community in Russia to become true ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through their conduct, academic success and commitment to their homeland.
The Head of State delivered the message during a meeting with Congolese citizens in Moscow on Friday, October 30, on the sidelines of his participation in the third Russia–Africa Summit.
“I ask you to be true ambassadors of your country, the DRC,” President Tshisekedi told the community, according to the Agence Congolaise de Presse.
The meeting created a direct link between the presidency and Congolese nationals living abroad, giving the President an opportunity to thank them for their welcome, listen to the concerns of the community and explain the progress being made at home.
Representing Congo with Pride
President Tshisekedi presented the diaspora as an important part of the country’s international image.
Congolese citizens living abroad interact daily with universities, employers, businesses, public institutions and local communities. Through their achievements and behaviour, they can help others better understand the DRC, its culture, its ambitions and the talent of its people.
The President encouraged the community to continue demonstrating love for the country and to represent it with dignity. His message placed national pride alongside personal responsibility: every Congolese success abroad can contribute to the reputation of the nation.
This role is particularly important as the DRC expands its diplomatic, economic, educational and cultural partnerships. A confident and engaged diaspora can become a practical bridge between Congolese institutions and opportunities available in other countries.
The appeal also reflects an earlier call for the Congolese community in Russia to promote the country’s cultural heritage. In September, ACP reported that Congolese students and young professionals could serve as important representatives of the country’s image and cultural influence.
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Congolese Students Called to Pursue Excellence
President Tshisekedi addressed a special message to Congolese students enrolled in Russian institutions.
He encouraged them to excel in their studies and make the most of the academic and professional opportunities available to them. Their success, he indicated, can help defend the honour of the country and prepare a generation of specialists capable of contributing to national development.
The President also said the authorities would follow the students’ progress and seek to understand the needs and difficulties they face so that they can remain focused on their education.
That commitment gives the diaspora message a practical dimension. Students abroad may encounter challenges involving academic integration, accommodation, documentation, healthcare or communication with institutions. Stronger engagement between the government, diplomatic missions and student communities can help identify those needs and direct appropriate support.
According to coverage of the presidential video, the Head of State asked students to work hard and said their academic development would receive attention.
For the DRC, investing in students abroad is also an investment in national capacity. Skills acquired in medicine, engineering, agriculture, energy, digital technology and other fields can support the country’s long-term transformation.
Education at the Centre of DRC–Russia Cooperation
The diaspora meeting came during a Moscow visit that produced new cooperation frameworks between the DRC and Russia in education, health and economic and technical affairs.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s scholarship quota for Congolese students stood at 100 places in Russian universities, according to TASS coverage of his meeting with President Tshisekedi.
The two countries also signed an education and professional-training framework intended to expand opportunities for Congolese youth. The announced cooperation includes professional training through the Alabuga Start programme, with future participation arrangements expected to be communicated through the institutions responsible for implementation.
These developments give additional meaning to President Tshisekedi’s message to students. Academic excellence can allow Congolese beneficiaries to transform international education opportunities into expertise that serves the country.
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The DRC’s objective is not only to send students abroad, but to develop a network of trained citizens who can contribute knowledge, professional experience and international connections to the nation.
The Diaspora Briefed on National Reconstruction
During the exchange, President Tshisekedi also presented the broader national situation and discussed development programmes under way in different sectors.
His message emphasized that the DRC is pursuing reconstruction while strengthening its diplomacy, financial governance and international partnerships.
By briefing Congolese citizens abroad directly, the President gave them information they can use when discussing their country with foreign institutions, colleagues and communities.
Diaspora members who understand national programmes and achievements are better placed to promote investment opportunities, build institutional relationships, correct outdated perceptions and encourage constructive engagement with the DRC.
They can also connect Congolese entrepreneurs, students, professionals and public institutions with useful networks in their countries of residence.
FATF Exit Presented as a National Achievement
President Tshisekedi highlighted the DRC’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as one of the country’s recent international achievements.
The decision, announced on October 30, ended the increased-monitoring process that had applied to the DRC since 2022. It recognized the country’s progress in strengthening its framework against money laundering, terrorist financing and illicit financial flows.
In an official statement reported by RTNC, President Tshisekedi said the achievement strengthens the DRC’s international financial credibility and sends a signal of confidence to banks, investors and economic partners.
For the diaspora, stronger financial credibility can support a more positive environment for legitimate transfers, business relationships and investment connections between Congolese citizens abroad and the national economy.
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The benefits will develop progressively as financial institutions update their risk assessments, but the decision gives diaspora professionals and entrepreneurs a stronger national story to present internationally.
Diaspora as a Partner in National Development
President Tshisekedi’s appeal recognizes that the Congolese diaspora is more than a community living outside the country. It is a national resource composed of students, researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs and cultural representatives.
Congolese citizens abroad can contribute through:
professional knowledge and technical expertise;
investment and business partnerships;
academic and scientific networks;
cultural promotion and tourism advocacy;
mentorship for young Congolese people; and
constructive representation of the DRC in international spaces.
Their connections can help open doors for universities, companies, cultural institutions and development partners interested in working with the DRC.
The government’s role is to maintain dialogue, understand the community’s needs and create channels through which diaspora skills and networks can connect with national priorities.
A Message of Confidence in Congo’s Future
The Moscow meeting combined patriotism with a practical call to excellence.
President Tshisekedi asked Congolese citizens in Russia to be proud representatives of their country, while assuring students that their progress and difficulties matter to the State.
The message comes as the DRC strengthens its international financial credibility, expands cooperation with Russia and pursues development programmes at home.
For Congolese people abroad, being an ambassador of the country does not require an official diplomatic title. It means succeeding, building useful relationships, promoting Congo’s culture and opportunities, and carrying the national identity with dignity.
Through this direct engagement, President Tshisekedi placed the diaspora within the DRC’s broader national project—as a source of pride, knowledge, influence and future development.
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