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Democratic Republic of the Congo-Norway relations
Map indicating locations of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Norway
File:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag of Norway
Norway

Democratic Republic of the Congo – Norway relations refer to the bilateral relations between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Norway. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is represented by a non resident embassy in London. There are 1,930 DR Congolese people living in Norway.[1] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs discourages people to travel to the northern and eastern parts of the country.[2] In 1963 Norway was one of only six nations that Congo approached with a request for military aid, asking for help to build a navy. Norway declined the request, citing a shortage of the training expertise Congo was looking for.[3][4]

Humanitarian aid[]

The Congo became independent from Belgium on June 30, 1960. Norway had began humanitarian aid to the Congo since at least 1963.[5] Norway gave the Congo NOK 40 million (US $15.7 million) in 2003. Vidar Helgesen, the Norwegian Secretary of State said: "In spite of some hopeful signs in the peace process and the establishment of a transitional government in the capital, Kinshasa, the humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the country is precarious."[6] In 2004 all previous debt was forgiven.[7] In 2007 the Secretary Generals of the 5 largest Norwegian humanitarian organizations visited the Condo to access the crisis.[8] In 2008 an additional NOK 15 million were suppled.[9]

Kivu conflict[]

In 2009 Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence visited the Congo to observe the conflict. She agreed to send troops to supply manpower to the United Nations peace-keeping forces during the Kivu conflict.[10]

Joshua French and Tjostolv Moland[]

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In 2009, Norwegian nationals Joshua French and Tjostolv Moland were arrested and charged in the killing of their hired driver, attempted murder of a witness, espionage, armed robbery and the possession of illegal firearms. They were found guilty and sentenced to death, and also fined—along with Norway—$60 million.

Jonas Gahr Stoere, Norway's Foreign Minister said: "I strongly react to the death sentence of the two Norwegians ... Norway is a principled opponent of the death penalty and I will contact the DRC's foreign minister to convey this." According to Bloomberg.com "Norway also object[ed] to the espionage conviction and the inclusion of the country in the fine, Stoere said. 'Norway isn’t a part of this case.'"[11]

Norwegians of Congolese descent[]

  • Mushaga Bakenga, Norwegian football striker, his parents are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[12] He represented Norway 28 times at various Youth Levels football matches.

Norwegians in Congo[]

  • Hanne Nabintu Herland, she was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1966 to Norwegian parents.[13]

See also[]

  • Foreign relations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Foreign relations of Norway
  • People of African descent in Norway

References[]

  1. "Persons with immigrant background by immigration category, country background and sex". Statistics Norway. http://www.ssb.no/innvbef_en/arkiv/tab-2009-04-30-05-en.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  2. "Dit du ikke bør reise" (in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende. 2009-12-25. http://www.bt.no/forbruker/reise/Dit-du-ikke-boer-reise-990664.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. (noting that Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised against travel to the northern and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo)
  3. "Congo Asks Six Nations To Help Retrain Forces". New York Times. March 15, 1963. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0913FB3D5E177A93C7A81788D85F478685F9. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "The Congo has asked for assistance from six nations in retraining and reorganizing its military forces. Norway would be assigned the navy. The Congo at the moment has no navy. Several hundred soldiers were designated some months ago for naval training, ..." 
  4. "Norse Refuse to Help Congo Build a Navy". Associated Press. November 27, 1963. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UX8eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RMoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4915,4841488&dq=norway+congo+navy&hl=en. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "[Norway] will inform the Congo it is unable to meet a request for help in building a Congolese navy, a spokesman for the defense ministry said today. ..." 
  5. "Norway Offers Aid to Congo". New York Times. February 15, 1963. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F1EFE3F581A7B93C7A81789D85F478685F9. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  6. "Norway Gives US $15.7 Million in Humanitarian Aid". AllAfrica.com. October 24, 2003. http://allafrica.com/stories/200310240103.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "Norway has given the Democratic Republic of the Congo 40 million kroner (US $15.7 million) for emergency relief measures" 
  7. "Norway forgives debt from Congo". Associated Press. May 28, 2004. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-95018669.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  8. "Congo crisis". Norwegian Red Cross at Reuters. October 26, 2007. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/norwayredc/11933859795.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "The Secretary Generals of the 5 largest humanitarian organizations in Norway recently visited The Democratic Republic of Congo to raise awareness of the detriorating humanitarian situation." 
  9. "Norway Increases Emergency Relief to DR Congo by NOK 15 Million". Norway Mission to the United Nations. November 11, 2008. http://www.norway-un.org/NorwayandUN/Selected_Topics/Peace_Efforts/031108_congo15mill. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  10. "Norwegian forces will be sent to Congo". Norway Post. January 19, 2009. http://norwaypost.com/news/norwegian-forces-will-be-sent-to-congo.html. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "Defence Minister Anne-Grete Stroem-Erichsen has announced that Norway will supply manpower to the UN-led peace-keeping forces in the West African state of Congo, torn by civil war." 
  11. "Norway to Contact Congo, Nationals Get Death Sentence". Bloomberg. September 8, 2009. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aEb.Kf_2xjzw. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  12. "Stortalent reddet Rosenborg" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. February 9, 2010. http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/article2827434.ece. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "Foreldrene hans kommer opprinnelig fra Kongo" 
  13. "Norge er i en moralsk krise" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/article3529720.ece. Retrieved 2010-05-18. "Hanne Nabintu Herland er født og oppvokst i Kongo. I 1966 lå hun i armene på en høvding i Kivu, evig langt fra norsk næringsliv, og fikk navnet Nabintu. Da hun fylte 19 dro hun alene hjem til Norge. Og her hjemme fikk hun sjokk." 
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