Title: Strengthening military cooperation between the DRC and Kenya
Introduction :
The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) concerns not only the country, but also its regional partners. With this in mind, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, Jean-Pierre Bemba, went to Goma, capital of the province of North Kivu, to participate in a military cooperation summit with the minister Kenyan Defense. This meeting aims to strengthen the fight against armed and terrorist groups who are destabilizing the east of the country. In this article, we will present the main discussions and resolutions resulting from this summit.
Sincere cooperation to combat insecurity:
Faced with the insecurity raging in the DRC and which has repercussions on the entire region, Jean-Pierre Bemba stressed the importance of sincere cooperation with friendly countries, in particular Kenya. The Deputy Prime Minister appealed for regional solidarity, saying that when a neighbor’s house burns, neighbors must act to prevent the fire from spreading. He expressed gratitude to Kenya for having already deployed troops to support the DRC and called for continued support in the fight against insecurity.
Resolutions for strengthened cooperation:
At the end of the summit, several resolutions were adopted to strengthen military cooperation between the DRC and Kenya. A DRC-Kenya joint commission will be set up to supervise the implementation of the military cooperation agreement signed in April 2021. This commission will also monitor military training activities provided by Kenyan instructors within the Armed Forces. of the DRC (FARDC).
Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Barre Duale underlined his country’s commitment to supporting the DRC, both bilaterally and within the framework of the Regional Organization of East African States (EAC). ). He reaffirmed the strength of relations between the two countries and their desire to work together to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Tribute to President Tshisekedi and common vision:
Jean-Pierre Bemba also paid tribute to President Félix Tshisekedi for his vision, commitment and determination to work closely with Kenya. He welcomed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and stressed the importance of joining efforts for the development of Africa.
Conclusion :
The military cooperation summit between the DRC and Kenya marks an important step in the fight against insecurity in the east of the country. The commitment of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation and work closely together in the fight against armed groups is essential to ensure peace and stability in the region. The establishment of the joint commission and the continuation of military training demonstrate this common desire to work together. It is now essential that these resolutions materialize on the ground to guarantee the security of the Congolese populations and promote the development of the region.