Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Ambassador
H.E. Marie-Hélène LOWUMBA MATHEY-BOO
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States of America
Ambassador Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo Lowumba has been appointed as the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United States by President Félix Tshisekedi on January 11, 2022. Prior to this role, she held various significant positions as a career diplomat and an International Civil Servant, including Ambassador of the Republic of Congo to Gabon, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Small-Scale Enterprises and Crafts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Director of External Relations and Governance of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Marie-Hélène, the 12th Chief of Bokoli in the Mai-Ndombe Province, has a diverse educational background, earning her doctorate in law with a focus on international law from the Free University of Brussels in Belgium (Universite Libre de Bruxelles, ULB).
Her diplomatic career spans multiple countries, including the Republic of Congo, Belgium, Nigeria, Gabon, and Zimbabwe. Notable achievements include her role as Chief Administrator for the Center for Industrial Development in Brussels and serving as Country Director for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Nigeria.
In 2001, she became the Minister of Trade, Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises, and Crafts, where she focused on infrastructure expansion and investment promotion. Her contributions in Gabon earned her the Medal of the Commandeur de L’Étoile Équatoriale. Marie-Hélène also served as the executive director of the Centre International des Civilisations Bantu (CICIBA) from 2005 to 2009.
After working as a senior consultant in various private sectors from 2010 to 2021, Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo was appointed as the Ambassador to the United States, succeeding Ambassador François Nkuna Balumuene. Her remarkable career showcases her expertise in diplomacy, international law, mediation, and resource mobilization.
MEET OUR EMBASSY DIVISIONS
The Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo represents the DRC interests’ in the United States of America. The Embassy staff engages interested stakeholders on a range of diplomatic, security and economic issues related to the DRC and the U.S.A. while providing consular assistance to Congolese nationals, investors and those seeking to travel to the DRC.