The Democratic Republic of Congo was at the center of all attention during the ICGLR summit in Luanda on June 4, 2023. The leaders of twelve member countries took several resolutions and recommendations there to support the country in crisis.
The summit notably reaffirmed the need to execute the Luanda joint roadmap, adopted in November 2023, and adjusted in Addis Ababa in February 2023. The leaders also welcomed the deployment of Angolan troops to secure the pre-cantonment and cantonment of M23 troops.
In addition, the summit set a date for a quadripartite coordination meeting with the participation of EAC, ICGLR, SADC and ECCAS under the aegis of the African Union. The President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, was accompanied by the VPMs of Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State for Regional Integration and other experts from his cabinet.
The country faces many challenges, including disputed election results, repression of protesters, and the security crisis in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Despite these obstacles, the DRC is showing resilience and perseverance in overcoming these challenges.
In recent news, the DRC has seen a controversial arrest of Salomon Idi Kalonda Della, highlighting the issue of respect for human rights in the country. The rehabilitation of the Kinshasa-Matadi railway opens up new prospects for the Congolese economy, but the safety of workers must be guaranteed. Finally, the terrorist attack in Beni shows that the country must redouble its efforts to protect its citizens.
In this context, the call of the Catholic Church for the lifting of the state of siege in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri should be considered with attention. The situation is complex and requires a comprehensive approach, but the safety of citizens must be the top priority.
It is therefore essential that the DRC continues to work to stabilize the political, economic and security situation in the country in order to build a better future for all Congolese.