Felix Tshisekedi's state visit to Belgium continues with meetings and discussions related to the diplomatic and economic relations and ties between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Kingdom of Belgium

On Tuesday the Congolese president was first received with military honors by Prime Minister Charles Michel, then the two countries have signed some symbolic texts for the resumption of cooperation before the head of state of DRC was received by the King of the Belgians.

 

It's a great visit with a busy program to which Felix Tshisekedi lends himself. There is a willingness on both sides to show that a certain page is turned, while on the last years of the presidency of Joseph Kabila, the two countries were at loggerheads. Kinshasa expelled the Belgian officers and suspended military cooperation. Consulates had been closed and Belgium had openly redirected its aid to the country towards civil society. The European Union did the same, but did not say so openly.

In any case, the Congolese head of state hopes that Belgium will serve as a gateway to boost cooperation with the European Union. It is partly to return to these different snags that President Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Charles Michel signed several documents on Tuesday morning.

Three texts instead of the four originally planned. The one on the resumption of military cooperation is still being negotiated. More planning meetings are needed, says the Congolese presidency. Which is not without creating disappointment in his Belgian interlocutors. Memoranda of Understanding that are not binding, but which should allow some standardization between the two countries.

However, the page is not completely turned, explained the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of cooperation, Alexander de Croo, before the meeting. The ongoing cooperation program with the DRC is indeed only a transitional program, pending the formation of a new Belgian government. Above all, says the minister, while waiting for the Congolese government to prove itself its desire to improve the living conditions of the Congolese.

After the prime minister, the Congolese head of state was received by the King of the Belgians, King Philippe. Felix Tshisekedi left a note on the royal palace's guestbook, but the press was not allowed to photograph it. Finally, the last important meeting of the day was his meeting with the employers at the headquarters of the federation of Belgian companies. The Belgian entrepreneurs were numerous, they also suffered from the quarrel.

For Felix Tshisekedi, this visit is important for more than one reason. The Congolese head of state told the Belgian entrepreneurs, he hopes that this rapprochement with Belgium will offer him a "gateway" for the resumption of cooperation with the European Union. Like Belgium, the EU had made the choice under the presidency of Joseph Kabila to reorient its aid to civil society, to the detriment of the Congolese state, in view of the deterioration of the political situation.

But this visit did not only happy. Dozens of Congolese tried to protest before being repulsed by the Belgian police, far from any official site. They blame Belgium for receiving President Felix Tshisekedi while his election was contested.

Writer/Editor : 

Cassien Tribunal Aungane

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