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‪The history of collections between Belgium and the Congo is closely linked to the political history of both countries. This contribution aims to show how, on the eve of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence, the question of the place of collections was the subject of intense debate. It also traces how the issue was addressed before and after independence, through relations between Congolese and Belgian museum institutions from the 1930s onwards. We will also examine the impact of the question of restitution of artefacts on political relations between Belgium and Zaire, as well as the role played by museum professionals in the political and diplomatic decision-making process between the two countries.‪