The relations between the Republic of the Congo and Sweden have a long history, predating the establishment of our modern diplomatic relations by several decades.
As early as 1881, Swedish Protestant missionaries travelled to Central Africa. The engagement of Swedish churches and missions thus represents one of the earliest enduring links between Sweden and the people of this region, first in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and later in the territory of present-day Republic of the Congo.
Yesterday, during a visit dedicated to this history and guided by Professor Bertil Åhman, theologian and author, I had the opportunity to discover archives, publications and a small library of the Uniting Church in Sweden, documenting the journeys of these early missionaries and the particularly challenging conditions in which they lived.
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Among the first arrivals, some lost their lives, notably to malaria, a disease that was still poorly understood at the time and for which means of prevention and treatment were very limited.
These documents take us back to the origins of a human story connecting Sweden and the two Congos, shaped by encounters and the sharing of knowledge, but also by hardship and the complex realities of that period in history.
More than 140 years later, it is important to revisit these early encounters, preserve their memory, and better understand the journey that has brought us to where we are today.
Madzia, 1910. First school of the mission station founded by Johan and Maria Hammar. Photo: Johan Hammar, 8 October 1910.
Today, relations between the Republic of the Congo and Sweden are entering a new dynamic, focused on cooperation, education, innovation, sustainable development, and greater exchanges between our peoples.
Understanding the history of our relations also enables us to better shape their future.”
Nana Rosine Ivouba
Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo to the Nordic Countries