Country Overview
Democratic Republic of the Congo
At a glance
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Although same-sex relations are not criminalized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are also no laws explicitly protecting LGBTIQ people. Article 176 of the penal code criminalizes activities deemed offenses against public decency. There have been several attempts to introduce laws that would explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex relations, including a bill introduced by a member of parliament in April 2024.
Queerphobic rhetoric by government officials creates a hostile environment for LGBTIQ persons, contributing to violence and discrimination. In March and April 2023, trans people were assaulted and sexually harassed in voting registration centers, sometimes under the watch of law enforcement. In May 2024, then-newly appointed former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba ordered public prosecutors to prosecute homosexuals even though the country had no anti-gay law. Following those remarks, in June 2024, public prosecutor Firmin Mvonde Mambu ordered regional prosecutors to initiate proceedings “against the perpetrators of deviant practices of a sexual and homosexual nature, as well as the perpetrators of noise pollution.” An activist who spoke out against this witch hunt was reportedly attacked as a result of his activism.
Armed conflict in the eastern part of the country has resulted in elevated risks for LGBTIQ people, including the risk of being outed through searches at military checkpoints. In April 2025, three trans women were reportedly abducted by an armed group and have not been seen since. In July 2025, a house sheltering transgender people was vandalized after local residents reported them to the occupying forces.
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