Friendship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

There is no state registration, uniform access route, or responsible national authority for friendship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Everyday terms include the French term for friendship (amitié), friendship, camaraderie, peer groups (groupes de pairs), and friends’ networks (réseaux d’amis); the appropriate term depends on the language and setting. Friendships can develop through schools, youth and community activities, religious groups, sports and cultural programs, peace clubs in schools, and displacement- or humanitarian initiatives. UNICEF and youth programs such as the named youth program (U-Report Tour), as well as networks of young volunteers, support contact and community engagement but do not create a legal status for friendship. Contact takes place in person or through mobile networks and the internet. Access is uneven: According to ITU data for 2024, 19.7 percent of the population used the internet, the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions was 30.1 per 100 inhabitants, and 44.3 percent owned a mobile phone. At least 3G was available to about 55 percent and LTE to about 45 percent of the population. Call credit, data costs, transport, poverty, insecurity, and displacement can therefore prevent regular contact. These figures describe the national situation and do not mean that every province, city, or refugee settlement has the same level of access. In situations of conflict and displacement, friendships can provide emotional support, practical information, solidarity, and access to additional assistance. At the same time, separation, loneliness, stigmatization, threats, and security risks can arise. UN refugee agency (UNHCR) community centers, local protection committees, youth groups, peer and community networks, and social or recreational activities are functional points of contact. UNHCR, the refugee-support organization (CNR), partner organizations, and health and psychosocial services may offer protection, education, health, or psychosocial support; however, they are not bodies that establish or maintain friendships. The Constitution protects, among other things, freedom of thought and religion, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, freedom of movement, privacy, the confidentiality of correspondence and telecommunications, and freedom of association. These rights apply within the framework of the law, public order, morality, and the rights of others. Friendship itself creates no independent right to contact and no legal obligation to maintain a relationship. Children have additional protections for privacy and freedom of association, which may be affected by parental or legal limits. Private friendships have no uniform fee, deadline, or formal application process. Depending on the situation, costs arise for mobile communication, data, transport, or participation in an activity. Access to groups and support services depends on the location, provider, and security situation. A friendship can be ended voluntarily through less contact or by ending it; there is no formal termination procedure. In cases of threats, coercion, exploitation, or violence, local protection services, health services, or psychosocial support may be considered, depending on the circumstances. Romantic relationships, shared housing, and mere acquaintances are not the subject of friendship itself. National statistics on the frequency and duration of friendships are limited. Statements from Kinshasa, North or South Kivu, Ituri, or individual displacement sites therefore cannot readily be applied to the entire Democratic Republic of the Congo.