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Original Research Article | Open Access | Peer Reviewed
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Advocating for English as an Official Language in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Ngay Aben Omer Bernard, Ph.D.
Abstract
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the second largest and the third most populous African country, During the
colonial era French was taught to serve as the official language throughout the country and as an international
medium of communication, as well as the language of instruction in secondary school and in tertiary education.
Purpose: In an increasingly globalized world, the role of major languages like French and English has become pivotal in shaping cultural and economic interactions. This reflection article examines the current trends impacting the usage of these two languages while assessing their practical usefulness on both international and local scales for the DRC
Methodology: The article mainly uses secondary sources reflecting a literature review approach. By analyzing scholarly literature, this piece explores the implications of language trends for the country's future language policy Findings: As the French language experiences a decline on the global stage, the rise of English as the predominant language of the 21st century presents a compelling case for linguistic reform in the DRC. The author urges the DRC, one of the largest Francophone countries, to make the strategic choice of adopting English as its main official language. Supporting arguments include the rapid decline of French as an international language, while English has imposed itself as the language franca of the 21st century used in international trade and travel, in scientific research and training, in information and communication technology, and as the overall national development language.
Conclusion: A policy reform that adopts English as an official language constitutes a necessity.
Full Text: PDF |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30845/ijll.v12p9
Article History:
Received: 29 August 2025 | Accepted: 7 October 2025 |
Published: 15 October 2025
Reviewer(s):
Dr. Anna Zanfei, University of Verona, Italy. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9848-743X.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Estabraq Yahya Mohammed, Babylon University, College of Education for Human Sciences, English Department, Iraq. ORCID iD:
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0838-2871.
Email: [email protected]
Address for Correspondence:
Ngay Aben, Omer Bernard, Ph.D., Professor, Université
Pédagogique Nationale Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
Email: [email protected]
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