The Rwandan and Congolese presidents met on Saturday in Goma, after Gisenyi yesterday, where they tried to seal a new alliance. For their leaders, the two countries must turn the page and enter a new era.
as reported from the Democratic Republic of Congo, William Basimike
SequentiallyCongolese President Félix Tshisekedi welcomed his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame around noon. 13.30 before he crossed the guard of honor at the great barrier in Goma. Then it was with peaceful faces and with conviction that the two heads of state presented themselves to the local and international press at the Serena Hotel in Goma.
First, Paul Kagame presented his condolences to the Congolese people for the victims recent eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano and the earthquakes that followed. He estimated that the state of siege established by his counterpart for almost two months would be able to solve the problems of insecurity and instability that persist in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and which have hindered economic development for several years. He assured that Rwanda is ready to provide any assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the limits of its means.
Paul Kagame refused to reveal the nature of the media aid, but he promised to work with Felix Tshisekedi to find mutual solutions between the two countries and encourage people to live together.
For his part, the Congolese president welcomed the rapprochement and regretted the negative considerations of the past. Several times he called his counterpart a “brother.” However, he clarified that the idea of a besieged state had nothing to do with cooperation with Rwanda. Today, according to him, there is co-operation in all areas and he called for a unified effort to eradicate obstacles and henceforth think about the protection of the people of the two countries.
In addition, the two men visited Kibati, the Congolese part recently affected by the Nyiragongo lava flow, which they did yesterday in Rubavu in the Rwandan part. Several agreements have been signed, especially on the exploitation of gold in the eastern DRC.
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