CONGO / CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE  /  RÉPUBLIQUE DU CONGO (The Republic of the Congo) -  There is no law against homosexuality: Homosexual behaviour is not mentioned as a criminal offence in the penal code. The age of consent is equal. - Homosexuality now debated all over Africa (2006, Responses to the South African decision to legalise same-sex marriages): In Congo Brazzaville, authorities were caught by surprise when recently asked about the liberalisation process in South Africa. The Brazzaville government could not come up with another answer than saying "homosexuality does not exist in Congo." The press has so far not tried to prove government wrong.

Quand les lesbiennes et les pédés «dérangent» la stabilité des familles classiques (2011, Translation): Dans tous les quartiers populeux de Brazzaville, de Pointe-Noire, de Dolisie et de la plupart des villes du Congo,  il n’est plus rare de rencontrer des homosexuels qui, sans gêne et sans peur, se livrent à tout : embrassades, baisers, gestes intimes, etc. L’homosexualité a atteint ces dernières années des proportions inestimables dans notre pays au point de bousculer et de mettre en péril nos us et coutumes  séculaires.

L'homosexualité féminine au Congo (2010, Translation): Le Congo a un système de gouvernement laïc et fonctionne en principe comme une démocratie. Malgré des changements prometteurs, beaucoup de groupes marginalisés, dont la minorité homosexuelle (lesbienne), qui se voit toujours refuser un droit à la visibilité. Les lesbiennes sont sûrement nombreuses à Brazzaville, la capitale, mais beaucoup souffrent de ne pouvoir exprimer leurs sentiments. «Les gens pensent à la partie sexuelle, [mais] il ne s'agit pas de sexe , pourrait nous expliqué Véronique une jeune femme d’une vingtaine d’années. Il s'agit d'attirance, d'amour, de la même chose que ce qui se passe dans les relations et les amitiés hétérosexuelles.».

L'homosexualité à Kinshasa! (2099, Translation): L’ homosexualité à Kinshasa est devenue chose courante même pour les jeunes filles comme les jeunes garçons. Congomikili.com a tenu à interroger les kinois pour savoir comment et pourquoi ce phénomène qui était avant caché au Congo est devenu quelque chose de normale qui s’ étale et s’ expose en plein jour, suivez ce reportage na temps toujours!

L’Homosexualité, un phénomène qui prend de l’ampleur à Kinshasa (2006, Radio, Translation): « VW », « lesbiennes », « Pedé », des termes qu’on entend et qu’on connaît. Termes souvent utilisés pour les homosexuels. A Kinshasa, le phénomène prend de l’ampleur. Jadis, considéré comme un sujet tabou, voire même une malédiction, aujourd’hui, être homosexuel, n’est plus un drame. Comment vivent ces personnes un peu particulières ? Qu’en pense la société ? Qu’est-ce qui est à la base de ce problème ? Nicole Ngaka reçoit le Dr Mapunza, doyen de la faculté de médecine à l’université de Kinshasa..

Homosexuality now debated all over Africa (2006, Alternate Link): The South African decision to legalise same-sex marriages has caught much of Africa by surprise... Also in French speaking Africa, not all first reactions to the South African legislation were positive. In Congo Brazzaville, authorities were caught by surprise when recently asked about the liberalisation process in South Africa. The Brazzaville government could not come up with another answer than saying "homosexuality does not exist in Congo." The press has so far not tried to prove government wrong.

Resources: - Behind the Mask - A Web Site on Gay and Lesbian Affairs in Africa. - Africa by Country:  Congo. - African Veil: Countries Covered: Congo. - Queer afrol. - Afrol News; Gay/Lesbian Archives. - theGully.com news & Articles: Africa. 

Global Gayz: Africa: Republique du Congo  News Reports from 2005 to the Present. - ILGA: Africa: Republic of the Congo. - LGBT rights in the Republic of the Congo. - Sodomy Laws. - Human Rights Watch: Use Search Function. - Amnesty International: Use Search Function. - Pink News: Europe's Largest Gay News Service: Africa. - AsylumLaw.Org: Sexual Minorities & HIV Status: Documents / Reports / Website Links / Organizations. Republic of the Congo [also known as Congo-Brazzaville] Documents. - Links to News Sources for GLBT World.

MSMGF News Articles & Documents Resources. By Region & Country:  - Sub-Saharan Africa: - Congo.

CONGO (The Democratic Republic of the Congo) -  There are no specific laws against gays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Homosexual behaviour is not mentioned as a criminal offence in the penal code, thus gay sexual activity is de facto legal. However, articles 168-170 and 172 of the Penal Code punish "crimes against family life". These articles are used to punish homosexuals. A prison sentence for those punished under these articles can be from 5 to 20 years. - Congolese Anglican Church condemns homosexuality (2008): The Bishops of the Anglican Province of Congo Kinshasa (DRC) have issued a statement, strongly condemning homosexuality and warning Congolese Church members from supporting gay and pro-gay networks. Kinshasa Archbishop Dirokpa Balufuga Fidele, presiding over the Anglican Province of Congo, has signed a strong statement, issued by the Bishops of his Province, that goes further than his African colleagues in condemning homosexuality.

Symbol of Unhealed Congo: Male Rape Victims (2009): According to Oxfam, Human Rights Watch, United Nations officials and several Congolese aid organizations, the number of men who have been raped has risen sharply in recent months, a consequence of joint Congo-Rwanda military operations against rebels that have uncapped an appalling level of violence against civilians. Aid workers struggle to explain the sudden spike in male rape cases. The best answer, they say, is that the sexual violence against men is yet another way for armed groups to humiliate and demoralize Congolese communities into submission.. - Democratic Republic of Congo Still Hostile To Homosexuality (2009). - Criminalising homosexuality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2010). - Congo’s Sex Practices Against Nature Bill will criminalize homo sex and animal sex (2010). - Homosexuality an Abomination (2010): A Democratic Republic of Congo bishop and lawmaker said Monday he had put forward a bill that would make homosexuality a punishable offence, as being gay was an "abomination". "We would like the law to punish homosexuality, bestiality and necrophilia. Morally, homosexuality is a deviation, and spiritually, it is an abomination," Ejiba Yamapiale told AFP. - Groups mobilise against DRC’s anti gay bill (2010, Alternate Link). - DR Congo: lack of funds impede fight against DRC’s anti homosexuality bill (2011). - Congo homosexuality criminalisation bill delayed, not dead (2011).

L'homosexualité en Afrique, un tabou persistant: L'exemple de la RDC (2009, Translation)... L'homosexualité reste encore très mal acceptée dans la majorité des pays du continent. La République Démocratique du Congo n'échappe pas à cette règle. Dans cet immense État d'Afrique centrale dominé par la culture bantoue les réactions sont toutes très négatives quoique assez variées. Absence de virilité pour les hommes, sorcellerie et mauvais esprits, passage obligé pour s'enrichir ou avoir le pouvoir, tous les stéréotypes y passent. Pour d'autres, l'homosexualité est un phénomène importé de l'Occident, introduit durant la colonisation. Par la suite, la modernité et le développement des médias avec son corolaire d'images prônant l'homosexualité aurait continué à "corrompre" les mentalités sur le continent noir. - In Congo, a young lesbian "nearly lynched" (2010).

Resources: - Behind the Mask - A Web Site on Gay and Lesbian Affairs in Africa. - Africa by Country:  Democratic Republic of Congo. DRC Archive. - African Veil: Countries Covered: Democratic Republic of Congo. - Queer afrol. - Afrol News; Gay/Lesbian Archives. - theGully.com news & Articles: Africa. 

Global Gayz: Africa: Republique Democratique du Congo  News Reports from 2005 to the Present. - ILGA: Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo. - LGBT rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. - Sodomy Laws. - Human Rights Watch: Use Search Function. - Amnesty International: Use Search Function. - Pink News: Europe's Largest Gay News Service: Africa. - AsylumLaw.Org: Sexual Minorities & HIV Status: Documents / Reports / Website Links / Organizations. Congo [DRC] Individual Documents since 2005. - Links to News Sources for GLBT World.

MSMGF News Articles & Documents Resources. By Region & Country:  - Sub-Saharan Africa: - Democratic Republic of the Congo.