On January 20, 2024, representatives of 35 countries and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) had the honor of witnessing the swearing-in of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi.

The official IHRC delegation, invited by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headed by IHRC Secretary General H.E. Prof. h.c. Rafał Marcin Wasik, included the Head of the IHRC Diplomatic Mission in DR Congo, the Ambassador at Large, H.E. Hassan Maatoouk accompanied by his wife and a representative of Polish business, Mr. Jaroslaw Bojarski.

During the events accompanying the swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the IHRC Secretary General had the opportunity to get to know each other better and talk to the presidents, prime ministers and heads of state delegations present at the ceremony.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to stay in the DRC, the IHRC Secretary General was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, H.E. Christophe Lutundula Apala. During the meeting, they discussed the current state of cooperation between DRC and IHRC and outlined joint activities in the short and long term. The meeting, which took place in a pleasant and businesslike atmosphere, constitutes further quick actions to develop cooperation between both parties for the good and prosperity of the DRC society.

We extend special thanks to Her Excellency Clementine Shakembo Kamanga, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Poland, for her invaluable assistance in the field of diplomatic protocol for the IHRC delegation.

The IHRC Secretary General H.E. Prof. h.c Rafał Marcin Wasik expresses his sincere gratitude to the IHRC team for the professional and meticulous effort put into organizing his trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the ceremonial inauguration of the President. Thanks to their commitment, the trip ran smoothly and all meetings were efficiently organized, for which the Secretary General would like to thank him personally.

After the inauguration, IHRC Secretary General H.E. Prof h.c. Rafał Marcin Wasik met with IHRC-DRC Regional Volunteer Coordinator Israel Kwete to discuss the implementation of university diplomacy. Universities are recognized as a constant factor in the development and progress of society, offering prospects to higher education institutions and academic organizations. Congolese universities currently face two main challenges:

- need for expansion and

- the need to overcome cultural imperialism, especially reinforced by competition from various universities on the continent and in the international university market.

On the agenda for this meeting was an "intellectual influence" policy to be established by the International Human Rights Commission. IHRC DR Congo aims to lead universities in this direction through urban development projects financed by the state, local authorities and private funds. This is possible thanks to the unprecedented development of relationships between local universities and international organizations.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) signed on 9 August 2023 a Diplomatic Agreement under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961. Under the agreement, the Transnational Intergovernmental Organization will provide support to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on its expertise in areas such as public security, the fight against crime and illicit trade, assistance in the fight against corruption, and training of observers to ensure electoral transparency.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the IHRC has launched a Diplomatic Mission that will employ international and domestic staff, consultants, advisors and experts used by the IHRC Diplomatic Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Currently, the Diplomatic Corps of the International Human Rights Commission Diplomatic Mission to the DRC consists of the following persons: