In June, Belgium‘s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo on an official visit.
According to a statement from presidential assistant Guylain Nyembo, the visit will take place from Tuesday, June 7 to Monday, June 13.
Belgian government ministers will accompany the royals as they visit the capital Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Bukavu.
The trip was planned for March 2022, but it was postponed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In June 2020, King Philippe professed his “deepest sorrow” for his country’s colonial atrocities against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was the first time a Belgian monarch had expressed formal regret for events that occurred during the country’s colonial administration.
Belgium ruled Central Africa from the 19th century until 1960, when it gained independence. During the violent colonial regime, millions of Africans died.