### Analysis of Yoweri Museveni’s speech and Congolese diplomacy in Kampala: Towards a new approach for the big lakes?
On June 5, 2025, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni delivered his annual speech on the state of the nation, an event that traditionally marked the opening of the parliamentary session. This year, a particularly notable presence was that of a large delegation of Congolese parliamentarians, led by Vital Kamerhe, president of the National Assembly. This diplomatic gesture challenges while relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda oscillate between rapprochement and tensions, mainly due to persistent security challenges in the east of the DRC, in particular in Ituri.
#### A context of persistent tensions
Relations between DRC and Uganda have often been marked by misunderstandings and conflicts. The common border, although it can symbolize economic opportunities, has also been the scene of numerous clashes that feed insecurity. The Saint Nicolas Iracan deputy underlines that the border area, while being a crossroads of exchange, is also a reflection of instability, believing that the armed conflict has generated significant economic losses, not only for Uganda, but also for the DRC. The estimate which estimates the losses due to the clashes reveals the significant impact of violence on the region’s economic fabric at $ 1.5 billion.
### Call for Pan -African diplomacy
The interventions of Congolese deputies, like those of Iracan and Floribert Njabu, highlight an increasing call for African solidarity. Iracan evokes a necessity more than a choice: “We are linked, whether we like it or not”. This highlighting of a common destiny reflects the recognition of shared issues beyond political tensions. Can questioning then arise: how can African states transcend their historical disputes to build bridges rather than walls?
The speech of Floribert Njabu, who insists on the importance of inter -parliamentary dialogue, also serves as a reminder that diplomacy can be an engine of peace. By considering parliamentary diplomacy as a path to bypass traditional institutional blockages, Congolese elected officials ask an essential question: can collective efforts be enough to alleviate historical tensions?
### diplomacy in search of solutions
The visit of Congolese parliamentarians in Kampala is not simply a symbolic declaration, but an approach that suggests avenues for pragmatic cooperation to improve security and the regional economic situation. This type of merger could potentially play a key role in establishing sustainable solutions in the face of cross -border challenges. Can the current approach, focused on dialogue, be a model for other situations in Africa where bilateral relations are tense?
#### Towards a nuanced reflection
In a global context where the geopolitical situation is constantly evolving, the exploration of new forms of cooperation represents a legitimate hope. However, it would also be unlikely to neglect the feelings of a population marked by decades of conflicts. This challenges governments on their ability to create an environment conducive not only to high-level discussions, but also to community reconciliation and socio-economic development.
In conclusion, Museveni’s speech and the presence of the Congolese delegation in Kampala raise important issues of interdependence and regional cooperation. At a time when the challenges are multiple, the way of dialogue, carried by these interparliamentary exchanges, could reveal solutions which would benefit all the actors concerned. It remains to be determined whether this desire for cooperation will result in concrete actions, in order to open the way for lasting peace and shared prosperity in the Great Lakes.