Ministry of Justice and Keeper of the Seals (Ministère de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux) (MIN.J&GS)

The Minister of Justice grants legal personality (personnalité juridique) to non-profit associations (ASBL), NGOs, religious denominations and public utility establishments by ministerial order (arrêté). The Ministry also inspects and controls ASBLs, religious denominations and public utility establishments after registration.

Under Law 004/2001, founders first obtain a favourable opinion from the minister responsible for the association's sector of activity; in the provinces the provincial governor can grant this. That opinion serves as a provisional operating authorisation for six months. The founders then send a request for legal personality to the Minister of Justice, in two copies against a receipt, through the sectoral minister. The request must be signed by at least seven effective members, with their list, the statutes and a statement of expected resources. If the Minister has not decided after six months, legal personality is deemed granted, and the Minister must issue the order within the following month. Grant orders are published in the Official Journal. Any later change to the association's administration must be declared in writing to the Minister of Justice within a month, and property purchases or sales within three months, with a copy to the Minister of Finance. Foreign associations need a presidential decree, issued on the Minister of Justice's proposal. In 2024 and 2026 the Ministry ran regularisation and inspection campaigns for ASBLs and religious denominations. The 2026 inspection mission in Kinshasa was suspended in September 2026.