ROME -- Authorisation has been given by the Kinshasa government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Congolese children adopted by Italian parents to leave the country, after a long struggle that has been ongoing since 2013, officials said Wednesday.  In February, a total of  14 children were given authorisation and though many more have now also been granted permission, there are 50 who are still waiting.

 A small glimmer of hope has opened in this age-old affair with respect to the children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are regularly adopted by families from various countries, but who have been stuck in the country since 2013, waiting for the adoption procedure to be verified by the Kinshasa authorities.  The powers that be have now allowed a further 66 children to join their adoptive families in Italy.  The authorisation, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been transferred via the Italian Embassy.  The Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni was quick to express his pleasure at the turn of events.  This new group of children will join the other 14 who gained authorisation in mid-February.

 The Kinshasa decision “brings great happiness, for the children and for the families,” explained Marco Griffini, president of the association for international adoption, Amici dei Bambini.  “Finally these children can return to their parents,” he continues, “We hope that very soon the others who are still there will be able to do the same.”

 There were around 130 children who were waiting for completion of their adoption process and, though this number has been significantly reduced, there are 50 who are still waiting.  “The problem of the adoption block was determined by the necessity for the Congo to equip themselves with a more stringent adoption law,” explains Griffini, “Now our hope is that we can start working with the Congo again, easily and with confidence.”

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