The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) speaks French primarily due to its colonial history. The country was colonized by Belgium in the late 19th century, and during this period, French was introduced as the official language. Belgium, being a French-speaking country, imposed French as the language of administration, education, and commerce.
After gaining independence in 1960, the DRC retained French as its official language. This decision was made to maintain a sense of unity among the diverse ethnic groups within the country, each with its own native languages. French serves as a neutral language that facilitates communication across different regions and ethnicities.
Today, French is widely used in government, media, and education, making it a crucial part of the DRC’s cultural and political landscape. While there are over 200 local languages spoken in the country, French remains the lingua franca, ensuring that people from different linguistic backgrounds can communicate effectively.