Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of DR Congo's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of the sovereignty of the DR Congo.

Political sovereignty — 25.4

Delegation of sovereignty: DR Congo participates in the United Nations, the African Union, UNESCO, the WTO, the IMF, the World Bank, Interpol, the ICC and has agreements with the EU on digital, economic, environmental and legal transformation, as well as attracts UN missions, East African and South African military missions for stabilization; the country delegates security competencies, monitoring of rights and investments.

Limitation of national legislation: The DRC is one of the few African countries that has fully integrated the Rome Statute (ICC) into the national legal framework (since 2015), advocates for a new universal international regulation on ecocrimes, implements a number of human rights and environmental regulations directly, and gives priority to the constitution on basic issues.

Internal political stability: Absent; the country is one of the most unstable in the world (WGI -2.04 in 2023), armed competition with rebels persists, 120+ groups are active in the east, ethnic and cross-border conflicts are underway, the state of emergency remains in a number of provinces, democracy is limited, elections are accompanied by scandals and protests.

Government Effectiveness (WGI): The index is about -1.46 (2023), which confirms the weak work of government agencies, corruption and a chaotic management system of public services and personnel. Electronic government (EGDI): DRC ranks 169th out of 193 (EGDI–2022 — 0.355), separate digital services have been implemented in the capital and some cities (electronic taxes, company registry, online issuance of certificates), there is no digitalization in the regions.

Support/trust in the national leader: According to official data, in 2023, President Felix Chisekedi received 73% of the votes in the elections, although international observers and the opposition pointed to massive violations; real support ratings according to expert estimates are 20-25%, trust in the government is very low.

Foreign military bases: There are no permanent foreign military bases, only UN peacekeepers (MONUSCO), a contingent of the East African and South African communities and foreign (authorized) military advisers and contractors are stationed; the state opposes the creation of permanent bases, but is forced to involve external forces to protect the borders.

Participation/distancing from transnational courts: The country is an active implementer of the Rome Statute (ICC), regularly cooperates with the ICC (some cases against rebel commanders and government officials are conducted in The Hague), participates in international and arbitration courts on economic disputes with external companies.

Centralization/decentralization: Officially, it is a highly decentralized system (26 provinces with their own legislatures), but in reality power is consolidated in the presidential office, governors are still appointed, and local elections have not been held for decades.

Transparency and control of special services: The power of the state security, military intelligence and police is enormous, transparency is minimal, regulatory bodies and parliamentary commissions are formal, massive human rights violations, regular repression of the opposition and the media, frequent use of military courts and "closed" measures.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, coverage is 91%.

Economic sovereignty — 23.5

GDP per capita (PPP): In 2024, GDP per capita in DR Congo ranges from $1,500 to $1,710 (PPP, World Bank), less than 6% of the global average; the country is among the five poorest on the planet. Sovereign gold and foreign exchange reserves: By the end of 2024, reserves reached $6.91–7.16 billion, according to Banque Centrale du Congo and IMF; this is enough for only 2.3–2.5 months of imports, which is below the recommended threshold.

Government debt (% of GDP): In 2024 — 19.3% of GDP (IMF, TradingEconomics, Statista), less than 1/2 of the average African level; debt burden is manageable, although vulnerability to external shocks is moderate.

Food security: Persistent pockets of hunger and malnutrition persist in a number of provinces, farm production does not meet the needs of a rapidly growing population, and the country has to import over 30% of grain and strategic foodstuffs; the UN and WFP assess the level of food availability as “low.”

Energy independence: It has one of the largest hydropower potentials in the world (Ingskaya HPP), partially meets domestic demand (less than 20% of the population has stable access to electricity), exports energy to its neighbors, while remaining an importer of petroleum products; as far as possible, the country strives for energy independence, but remains vulnerable in the segment of petroleum products.

Explored resources: The world's largest reserves of cobalt, coltan, copper, diamonds, tin, tungsten, significant reserves of gold, coal, iron ore and uranium; the country is a global center for the extraction of strategic raw materials, an export-oriented economic model.

Freshwater reserves: Maximum provision for Africa — the country is located on the Congo and has one of the largest river systems in the world + hundreds of lakes and swamps; there is often no access to drinking water outside cities.

National payment processing: The system is regulated by an independent central bank (Banque Centrale du Congo), national clearing and local payment systems operate; the infrastructure covers 95% of domestic transactions.

The share of the national currency in the calculations: All domestic transactions are carried out in the Congolese franc, foreign currency is used only in large export-import transactions and for international assistance.

Its own issuing center and credit policy: The Central Bank of the DR Congo is a fully national body, carries out currency issuance (CDF), monetary regulation, credit and interest rate policy within the framework of the state strategy; the level of independence and centralization is high.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 10.2

R&D expenses (% of GDP): In DR Congo, government spending on research and development in 2022 amounted to 0.41% of GDP, which is slightly higher than the typical level in Central Africa, but well below the global average. Import substitution in high-tech: The country almost completely lacks its own production of electronics, telecommunications equipment, IT or complex industrial technologies; equipment, software and engineering solutions are imported en masse.

Higher education enrollment: According to the World Bank and UNESCO, in 2020, higher education enrollment was 6.67% of young people (for comparison: the global average is 49.4%), while in recent years this figure has been growing, but remains one of the lowest on the continent.

Internet penetration: At the beginning of 2024, 28.31 million people regularly used the Internet — that's 27.2% of the population, the figure is growing by about one percentage point per year; the median mobile Internet speed is 17.03 Mbit/s, fixed — 39.94 Mbit/s.

Own national digital platforms: Government portals and services (online taxes, company registry, basic distance education) are available only in a few large cities; a significant part of the platforms are based on international solutions (Microsoft, Huawei, etc.), there are no independent national digital ecosystems for education or healthcare.

High-tech import dependence: Almost absolute — all machinery, software, mobile devices, and telecom equipment are imported from China, the EU, the USA, South Africa, and the Congo. It depends on foreign vendors and engineering solutions. Digitalization of public services: EGDI-2022 — 0.355 (169th place), only isolated digital services have been implemented in the capital and individual large cities, integration and universal access are absent, the majority of the population is not covered by electronic public services.

Biotechnological autonomy: There are several university laboratories in the country, project initiatives in medicine and agricultural biotechnology, but the entire technical base and reagents are imported; there is no pharmaceutical industry, and there is no production of vaccines and finished products.

Robotic autonomy: Completely absent — no educational programs, no industrial production of robots, no specialization among universities. Autonomy in chips and microelectronics: All microelectronics, chips, sensors, and high-tech components are fully imported; there is no in-house manufacturing or even assembly lines.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 92% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 23.1

Cybersecurity (CERT/ITU): DR Congo has a basic institutional structure for cybersecurity (Tier 4 according to ITU–2024 rating: 20-35 points out of 100); a national ANSSI (National Agency for Cybersecurity) and several departmental incident response centers have been established, but technical measures and staff training are poorly developed; the country conducts cyber training with ITU and the African Union.

IXP/Network development: There are at least 4 Internet exchanges (IXPs) in the country: the largest is KinIX in Kinshasa (Kinshasa Internet Exchange), also GOMIX, Lubumbashi and others; they provide local traffic exchange between operators (but only up to 30% of traffic remains inside the country).

Media in the national language: The official language is French, but four national languages are widely used on radio, television, print and online. languages: Lingala, Swahili, Kituba (Kikongo), Tshiluba (up to 60% of the airwaves), smaller languages — on community media; distribution by region corresponds to the ethno-linguistic composition.

Resilience to BigTech: The country depends on solutions, platforms, and data centers from Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other international companies; its own national regulators and competitors have minimal impact on the market. The share of own media content: Only 10-25% of radio, television and digital materials are generated by local studios, the rest by foreign news channels, music and video programs, and the export of materials via vendor platforms.

Own IT products/software: There are isolated independent projects (startups, educational and clearing platforms), but there are no large-scale national commercial or export solutions, the entire market is serviced by foreign subsidiaries or outsourcing companies.

Digital service coverage: The Internet covers 27.2% of the population (at the beginning of 2024), mobile finance is available to 31% of residents, only about 12% regularly use digital public services, coverage is flocking to the capital and the largest cities. National cloud storage systems: There are no sovereign infrastructures, government agencies and banks use foreign cloud solutions (Microsoft, Huawei, Amazon), some data centers are located in Kinshasa, but their own clouds are poorly developed.

The sovereignty of mobile communications: The networks are built on the infrastructure of Chinese and European vendors (Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia), four major mobile operators (Airtel, Vodacom, Orange, Africell) are involved, licenses are issued by the state, but there is no technological independence.

The legal regime of personal data: The law is officially in force on the basis of the Malabo Convention, a Data Protection Agency and a register of operators have been established, but the control mechanism is weak, the EU standard is partially achieved, and personal data is regularly violated by the state and companies.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 91%.

Cultural sovereignty — 70.8

Number of UNESCO sites: There are 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in DR Congo: Virunga, Garamba, Kakuzi Biega, Salonga (de-endangered in 2021), Okapi; all are natural territories and key biodiversity parks in Africa. The total contribution to world culture: The World Center of Afro-music (Rumba Congolese – intangible heritage of UNESCO since 2021), mask and carved art, textiles, influence on world contemporary art (including Picasso), theater, poetry, literature in French and national languages, traditional epic narrative.

National Awards in Art and culture: There are National Awards in various categories (NACA, DRC Arts Council Awards), there are awards for achievements in music, fine arts, literature, theater, crafts; the tradition of such awards has been established over the past decades.

Traditions and identity: A rich ethnocultural landscape (250 ethnic groups, 250+ languages), ritual music, dances, masks, lights, rituals, religious holidays; since the 1970s, state propaganda of “identity”, four national languages (Lingala, Swahili, Kituba, Tshiluba), syncretism of Catholicism and local beliefs.

State support for small nations: More than 250 officially recognized ethnic groups, a state program to support languages, ethnic identity, festivals, and ethnographic museums; joint initiatives are being implemented with UNESCO and international foundations.

Number of cultural sites: More than 40 recognized national monuments, 5 UNESCO sites, several hundred museums, exhibitions and memorial sculptures (e.g. Museum of Congolese Art, many local chamber exhibition halls). International cultural projects: Regular participation in the African ART Biennale, international festivals (rumba tours, print and instrumental festivals), major intercontinental educational and museum collaborations through UNESCO, the Memory of Africa program.

Recognition and protection of cultural brands: Music (rumba, soukous), masks, art schools and styles are registered at the national level; part of the intangible heritage is included in UNESCO lists, there are national and international legal protection measures. Diverse culinary culture: Rich cuisine: fufu, cassava, pondu, fried bananas, fish, peanut sauces, spices, beef and chicken in the makamba style; regional diversity and influence of neighboring traditions are noticeable.

The proportion of the population involved in cultural life: According to statistical and ethnographic surveys, over 65% of adults in urban areas and 80-85% in rural areas are regularly involved in holidays, national and ethnic rituals, musical and dance life, attend festivals, concerts, ceremonies, readings and exhibitions.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 92%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 26.3

Human Development Index (HDI): 0.649 In 2023 (a historical high for the country, but still low: 171st out of 193 countries in the world). Government spending on education: In 2022-2024 — 2.7–3.1% of GDP (lower than the average spending for poor African countries — 3.4% of GDP), while funding is distributed among ministries and is extremely fragmented.

Adult literacy: in 2023 — 80.3% (men — 89.6%, women — 71.7%); the gap between urban and rural areas is significant, the literacy rate among women and small nations is significantly lower. International Test Results (PISA): DR Congo does not officially participate in the international PISA program; there are no internal tests and assessment data on the quality of schooling and skills according to PISA standards.

The share of STEM graduates: It is estimated that 14-18% of university graduates study in STEM fields (engineering, biology, technology, medicine), specialized faculties introduce distance and French-language programs.

The share of foreign educational programs: approximately 7-10% of students participate in international distance learning, grant and French-speaking programs (France, Belgium, Canada, Africa), the main partner projects are online courses and exchanges.

Languages and cultures of small nations: There are more than 250 ethnic groups in the territory, 4 national languages (Lingala, Swahili, Kituba, Tshiluba), educational radio and cultural programs are supported, a number of schools in the regions teach in the languages of small nations, special projects and grants are being implemented to preserve the oral and spiritual heritage.

Number of state research centers (basic sciences): there are about 10 state institutes (medicine, basic and social sciences, agronomics), the key one is the University of Kinshasa (Lovanium), as well as institutes of health and agricultural research. The share of the national educational platforms: National solutions (portals for admission, online reports, individual distance schools) provide up to 20-25% coverage, most of the online education is distributed through foreign platforms or offline.

The volume of state programs to support talents/personnel: State and partially international grants for young professionals (3-5 thousand people per year), special scholarships for women, representatives of small nations and technical specialties, support for Olympiads and regional competitions.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 85%.

Military sovereignty — 25.7

Defense spending (% of GDP): In 2024, DR Congo's military spending amounted to 2.0% of GDP, totaling $899.2 million (the highest level in the country's history); the budget increased by more than 100% in 2 years due to the escalation of conflicts in the east and arms purchases.

The size of the armed forces: The number of the army in 2024 is 134,000 (regular), 100,000 in reserve, 20,000 in the police and gendarmerie; according to Global Firepower, they are one of the largest armed forces in the region.

Modern weapons: The base of the fleet consists of obsolete T-55/Type 59 (50+), armored vehicles (500+ armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles), artillery (200+), 20+ combat aircraft (12 MiG21, 8 Su25), 30+ helicopters (10 Mi24), no modern ballistic missiles and equipment are regularly upgraded through purchases from Russia, Egypt, Turkey and China.

The share of own weapons: The bulk of weapons are imported (Russia, Egypt, Turkey, China, Ukraine), however, in 2024, an enterprise for the joint assembly of ammunition (in partnership with Egypt) was launched, and negotiations are underway to establish local small arms production facilities.

Border control: The Armed Forces, gendarmerie and border guards ensure the protection of land, river and aviation borders, however, the problem of illegal crossings, the influence of the rebels in the east and a low level of control remains.

Military reserve: 100,000 reservists — officially registered, but only a small part is regularly retrained; occasionally the reserve is involved in the mobilization and protection of infrastructure.

Autonomy of military decisions: The country is formally outside the blocs, all decisions are made at the national level; the government accepts allied assistance (Angola, South Africa, in the past — the Russian Federation, Ukraine, France, Belgium), but there are no permanent bases; joint exercises and exchanges are carried out with countries in Africa and the Middle East.

National military industry: In 2024, local assembly of cartridges, fuel and ammunition began (together with AOI, Egypt), in the future — a small arms manufacturing plant (Afridex/Turkey), but there are no heavy military-industrial complex and machine tool industry.

The presence of nuclear weapons: None, the country is a signatory to the NPT and has a nuclear-weapon-free status; there are no nuclear missiles or warheads. Military space, national Intelligence system: There is no satellite, space or cyber intelligence system, foreign commercial satellite data and intelligence services are used, our own military intelligence is focused on radio and intelligence capabilities, cooperates with UN peacekeeping structures.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO – 90% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. There is a huge natural and energy potential. DR Congo has the world's largest reserves of cobalt (about 70% of global reserves), as well as the richest deposits of copper, coltan, diamonds, gold, uranium and rare earth metals.

It has a hydropower potential of over 100,000 MW (the Inga hydroelectric power station is one of the largest in the world). Water and climate resources. One of the most water-rich countries on the planet, it controls a significant share of Africa's river network.

The availability of water and fertile land makes sustainable agricultural production and the export of eco-raw materials possible. Mineral and food export base.

Exports of copper, cobalt, diamonds and timber account for up to 80% of foreign exchange earnings; against the background of global demand for battery metals, the country remains a strategic supplier to the global industry.

Cultural and linguistic identity. More than 250 ethnic groups, the official preservation of 4 national languages (Lingala, Swahili, Kituba, Tshiluba), many ethnic traditions recognized by UNESCO (Rumba Congolese – intangible heritage).

Regional importance and diplomatic role. The DRC occupies an important geopolitical position in Central Africa, is a bridge between Equatorial, Eastern and Southern Africa, participating in all key regional integration alliances (SADC, ECAC, Comesa, African Union). Availability of basic scientific and educational potential. The University of Kinshasa and several specialized universities provide training for specialists, and the state finances R&D at the level of 0.41% of GDP, which is higher than the average African minimum.

Weaknesses. Political instability and armed conflicts. Internal wars have persisted for more than 20 years; the current fierce conflicts with the M23 group and other forces are leading to chaos in the east of the country, weakening control over borders and economic zones.

Weak governance. The Government Effectiveness Index (WGI) is -1.46; HDI is 0.649, reflecting the low quality of the administrative apparatus, the judicial system and the high level of corruption. Archaic infrastructure and poverty of the population. GDP per capita (PPP) is about $1,700, which makes the DRC one of the ten poorest countries on the planet, despite its rich resources.

Most residents do not have access to electricity and basic services, 73% of households are below the poverty line. Low level of education and science. Only about 6.7% of the population is enrolled in higher education, the proportion of the literate population is 80%, and the quality of schooling does not meet international standards.

Dependence on external regulation. The national economy is based on foreign investment (mainly Chinese), dependence is critical in the field of technology, metal exports and processing of raw materials. Lack of technological and IT autonomy. All machinery, software, and equipment are imported.

National platforms are developed only at the level of basic portals. The level of digitalization is critically low (EGDI — 0.355; 169th place in the world). Weak control over territories. The eastern regions (Kivu, Ituri) are partially controlled by armed groups, and the Government does not have full sovereignty over the entire territory. Weak military modernity and security.

Despite the large number of armed forces (134 thousand), the equipment is outdated, dependence on foreign supplies is great; internal threats exceed the capabilities of the army. Social instability and humanitarian crises. Millions of displaced people, regular outbreaks of violence, epidemics (plague, Ebola), lack of access to medicine and sanitation against the background of the richest resources.

Overall assessment. DR Congo's Cumulative sovereignty index is 205 out of 700 points (extremely low — 29.3%), which places the country in the top 179th place in the world top. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country with enormous natural and cultural resources, geostrategically important for Africa and the world, but with extremely limited internal sovereignty.

Its main advantages are its huge raw material base, human and cultural potential, and its position on the continent. However, weak institutions, constant warfare, technological dependence and corruption negate the opportunity to realize this potential.

The sovereignty profile indicates that the country's sovereignty remains largely formal: economic and defense independence are limited, and internal institutions are overloaded with conflicts and external influence.