Which African country shares land borders with the most countries?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo shares land borders with the most countries of any African country. It has nine international land neighbours: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

The country’s unusually large number of neighbours reflects its position in the centre of Africa and its vast territory, which stretches from the Atlantic coast across the Congo Basin to the Great Lakes region. Its western border with Angola also includes a short Atlantic coastline and the separate Cabinda enclave of Angola.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is often confused with the Republic of the Congo, its western neighbour. The two countries have different capitals—Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo—and are separated in part by the Congo River.

The border count can vary in unusual cases if maritime boundaries or territories are included, but for standard African geography questions, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the accepted answer for the most land-bordering countries.