Russian Orthodox Church granted legal personality in DR Congo

The Russian Orthodox Church (EOR) has officially obtained legal personality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The decision was formalized on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Kinshasa by the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Guillaume Ngefa.

The administrative recognition follows a formal request from the religious community and a rigorous re-examination of its dossier by the Ministry of Justice. Authorities considered the institution's seniority and its compliance with Congolese legislative requirements.

Representatives present at the ceremony included Hieromonk Cleonique Madudu, the legal representative of the EOR in the DRC, and Dmitrii Nikitin, first counselor at the Embassy of the Russian Federation. This legal status allows the church to conduct pastoral and social activities across the entire national territory within the framework of current laws.