President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in Uganda for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing regional security issues with his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni.
The two leaders met at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, where President Museveni welcomed President Tshisekedi before they proceeded to a private meeting.
Although details of the meeting have been scanty, observers believe the major talking points included security.
Tshisekedi’s visit comes two weeks after he extended the mandate of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to operate in eastern DRC.
This extension allows the UPDF to continue its mission code named operation shujaa to eliminate the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group that has been a major security threat in the region. The ADF, responsible for numerous attacks in the DRC, has been targeted by joint operations between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the UPDF in a bid to restore peace and stability in eastern Congo.
During the talks, the two presidents are expected to focus on the broader security situation in eastern DRC, particularly in the conflict-prone provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. Additionally, they are anticipated to discuss wider security issues affecting the Great Lakes region, aiming to strengthen cooperation and devise strategies for sustainable peace across borders.
President Tshisekedi’s delegation includes the Minister of Infrastructure Alexis Gisaro, the High Representative for the Luanda process, the Chief of General Staff of the FARDC, and other senior officials.
A couple of weeks ago, DRC and Rwanda Foreign Ministers met in Angela’s capital Luanda to try and reach an agreement on thawing relations between Kinshasa and Kigali. That explains the inclusion of Alexis.
