DRC-Belgium cooperation: perspectives on strengthening democracy and the electoral process
A delegation of Belgian parliamentarians, led by the president of the foreign affairs committee Els Van Hoof, met the head of state Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa to discuss cooperation between the DRC and Belgium, according to information from the Presidency of the Republic.
The exchanges focused on issues related to the aggression of the DRC by Rwanda via the M23, corruption, and especially the question of the 2023 elections. The president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Belgian Parliament also announced the availability of his institution to support the ongoing electoral process, particularly if necessary at the financial or observation level, claiming to follow the electoral process closely, and wishing for a consolidation of democracy in the DRC.
Today, discussions on cooperation between the DRC and Belgium are increasingly focused on strengthening democracy and the integrity of elections, given the challenges of 2023. The fact that Belgian parliamentarians have ensured their availability for election observation is an important step forward for the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
At the same time, cooperation between these two countries still faces challenges, particularly on the issue of security in eastern DRC, as well as the reduction of corruption.
This meeting between Belgian parliamentarians and the Congolese head of state marks an important step in the improvement of relations between the two countries, and constitutes a positive signal for future cooperation.