The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa by area and a major focus in geography and current affairs. In competitive exams, a common question is:
Which countries share borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Here’s a simple trick to remember all 9 countries in one go!
The 9 Bordering Countries of the DRC
Let’s list them first for clarity:

Mnemonic Trick: All Boys Can Read Some Text Under Zebras’ Roofs
Here’s a mnemonic to help you recall all nine:
All Boys Can Read Some Text Under Zebras’ Roofs.
Let’s break it down:
- Angola
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Rwanda (The last “R” in the mnemonic is for Rwanda, as we already have one for the Republic of the Congo. You can also think of “Zebras’ ROOFS” to emphasize Rwanda.)
Pro Exam Tip: Visualize the Map!
- West: Republic of the Congo, Angola
- North: Central African Republic, South Sudan
- East: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania
- South: Zambia, Angola
The DRC is like a giant heart in Africa, pumping borders all around it!
Why It’s Important for Competitive Exams
✅ Geopolitical significance: The DRC is a resource-rich nation with a central position in Africa.
✅ Regional connectivity: Borders with both Central, Eastern, and Southern African countries.
✅ Static GK favorite: A must-know fact for exams like UPSC, SSC CGL, CDS, and state-level exams.