Kinshasa, June 23, 2024 – The recent meeting between the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and the Belgian statesman, André Flahaut, in Kinshasa, highlighted the importance for European countries to remain vigilant and committed to the dramatic situation which persists in the east of the DRC. This high-level discussion underlined the urgency of not letting distractions interfere with efforts to end the war of aggression plaguing the region.
André Flahaut, Belgian Minister of State and former Speaker of the Belgian House of Representatives, stressed the need for Europe not to tolerate a two-speed application of international law in the resolution of this armed conflict in the DRC. He called for concerted and firm action to uphold the principles of justice and peace.
During this meeting, President Tshisekedi and his guest also addressed the issue of bilateral cooperation between the DRC and Belgium. It is essential to strengthen ties between the two countries and maintain constructive dialogue to address common challenges and promote economic and social development.
This meeting was a continuation of President Tshisekedi’s efforts to raise European leaders’ awareness of the seriousness of the situation in eastern DRC, in particular the aggression perpetrated by Rwanda. The call for condemnation and sanctions against Kigali is a strong signal sent by the DRC to put an end to the human rights violations and massive population displacements plaguing the region.
The humanitarian drama playing out in eastern DRC, with millions of displaced people and vulnerable populations deprived of access to education and health care, must find an urgent and effective response at the international level. The question of responsibility and international solidarity in the resolution of conflicts and the protection of civilian populations must be at the heart of the concerns of world leaders.
In conclusion, the meeting between President Tshisekedi and the Belgian statesman highlighted the urgency of concerted action to put an end to the violence and suffering of the populations of eastern DRC. It is crucial that the international community remains mobilized and committed to ending this devastating conflict and upholding the fundamental principles of justice and peace.