Félix Tshisekedi at the United States-Africa summit: a positive assessment for the Congolese authorities
Felix Tshisekedi at the United States-Africa summit, December 13, 2022. AFP - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The United States-Africa Summit is over.
Alongside issues related to relations between the world's leading power and the African continent, several other sub-regional issues were on the agenda, such as the tension between Kinshasa and Kigali.
For its part, the DRC came to these meetings with a well-known agenda: to obtain greater pressure from the United States on Paul Kagame, accused of supporting and arming the M23.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Patient Ligodi
Felix Tshisekedi spoke directly with Joe Biden about this issue.
The Congolese authorities speak of a positive balance sheet and are delighted with the latest media releases from American leaders.
On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly called on Rwanda to "
use its influence
" on the movement that Kinshasa describes as a "terrorist group" to speed up the peace process in the province of North Kivu.
Caution
Piloting the various meetings himself, Félix Tshisekedi also reassured himself of the support of Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the American Senate.
Undercover, advisers to the Congolese president are cautious and say they are waiting for the results on the ground.
This terrain, precisely, was characterized, yesterday, Friday, December 16, by the resumption of clashes after ten days of relative calm, between the M23 and the Congolese army.
Political stake
The issue was also political.
Particularly expected on the issue of the electoral process, Felix Tshisekedi wanted to reassure Joe Biden and his administration of respect for the electoral process.
He promised that his government will fully finance the organization of the elections scheduled for the end of 2023. Regarding the humanitarian aspects of the crisis, the Congolese head of state met Samantha Power, administrator of the American Agency for International Development.
His entourage affirms that commitments have been obtained for a more significant intervention with disaster-stricken populations.
►Also read
: In Washington, Antony Blinken challenges Rwanda about the M23
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ground floor
Felix Tshisekedi
Joe Biden
Rwanda
M23