By RFIPosted on 16-09-2019editing 16-09-2019 at 20:52

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi arrived late Monday afternoon in Brussels for a three-day state visit to Belgium. He was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Didier Reynders.

The arrival of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi in Belgium marks the start of a highly symbolic visit after years of conflict between the two countries at the end of Joseph Kabila's second term . Felix Tshisekedi dines this evening 16 September with the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel he must find the next day for a more official meeting.

The signing of four Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Intent was announced, which should mark the beginning of the announced standardization. Symbolic with a military cooperation component suspended by Joseph Kabila, the reopening of the Congolese consulate in Antwerp and the normalization of the activities of the Belgian consulate in Lubumbashi closed during the quarrel. But by the end of the day, nothing was safer. This must depend in particular on the arrival or not of some Congolese ministers.

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On the Belgian side, it has been said for several days, not without satisfaction, that the delegation of the president includes mainly members of his political camp and not that of the former president. A meeting is scheduled this Tuesday, September 17 with the king. There have been negotiations around the list of people invited, which would have created susceptibilities. But neither of the two delegations wanted to say more.

This program promises to be busy with a meeting on Tuesday with the Belgian employers and a visit to the port of Antwerp the next day. The Congolese head of state will extend this first stay well beyond this state visit. Belgium is indeed his second homeland. He spent part of his life there. Felix Tshisekedi wanted to visit the three main regions of Belgium and even spend a few days on a private visit to see his family, before traveling to New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly.

► See also: Tshisekedi expected in Belgium for his first official visit to Europe

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