U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred anger among Congolese citizens after declaring he doesn’t know what “Congo” is, except that many people from there migrate to the United States.
Trump made these remarks on Monday during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where the two discussed immigration. He claimed that countries around the world are releasing criminals and sending them to America — specifically mentioning Congo.
Trump said: “You know, Giorgia, they’ve opened up prisons worldwide — not just in South America, everywhere, Congo, Africa, a lot of people, many people coming from Congo. I don’t know what it is, but they’re coming from Congo.”
In Kinshasa, where citizens already struggle with economic hardships, these comments added to public frustration, especially as the country seeks stronger ties with the U.S. to help restore security in its conflict-torn east.
Jonathan Bawolo, a Kinshasa resident, told Africanews: “Our country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a beautiful nation in the heart of Africa. We are rich and hospitable. We don’t harass foreigners in the streets. Trump’s comments reflect a false image often associated with Congo, far from the reality of our daily lives.”
While the DRC faces economic and political challenges, it remains one of the world’s richest nations in natural resources like cobalt, copper, and lithium — vital to global industries, especially tech and energy.
Trump’s remarks aren’t new in his commentary on Africa. In March last year, he dismissed Lesotho as an unknown country and criticized U.S. aid to nations like it. He also once stated that the only African leader he respects is Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
