Relationship dossier
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Relationship assessment
Cuba supported rebels opposing the Congolese government in 1965; later bilateral conduct is less clear.
Cuba toward Democratic Republic of the Congo
-20In 1965, Cuba sent Che Guevara and Cuban personnel to support the Simba rebellion against the Congolese government, a direct intervention against the state’s authorities.
Democratic Republic of the Congo toward Cuba
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cuba’s most salient direct policy toward the Congolese state was its 1965 support for the Simba rebellion, which opposed the government in Léopoldville. Information about subsequent Cuban government conduct toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and about Congolese government policy toward Cuba, is limited.
Areas of tension
- Cuba’s 1965 support for the Simba rebellion opposing the Congolese government.
Key developments
Cuba sent Che Guevara and Cuban personnel to support the Simba rebellion against the Congolese government.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and nature of bilateral government cooperation after the 1965 conflict are unclear.
- Details of Congolese government policy toward Cuba are limited.