Congolese and Ugandan presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Yoweri Museveni met at the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda on Wednesday, June 16. A meeting with a strong financial interest, but also a security meeting. The two heads of state begin renovation work on the roads that connect the two countries.
With our special envoy in Mpondwe, Patient Ligodi
The ceremony took place in Mpondwe, on the border, on the Ugandan side. Uganda’s President YoweriMuseveni has been in place since Wednesday, June 16, finally in the morning. Felix Tshisekediarrived a little later by helicopter. He talked to his Ugandan counterpart in a tent for about an hour.
The second part of the ceremony will be held in Kasindi to lay the first stone at Mpondwe, one of the three most active border posts between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, in terms of trade volume, Mpondwe is separated from Kasindi in the DRC by the river Lubiriha.
Trade
Most importantly, Uganda is very keen on this road renovation project that will enable its commercial products to reach major Congolese cities such as Beni, Goma and Butembo.
Uganda exports special building materials and manufactured products to the eastern DRC. For its part, Congo exports agricultural products including tea, coffee and cocoa. There is also the forest, but often in an informal circle. This project was initiated in 2019. It gained momentum in May 2021 with the signing of political and technical agreements between the two countries.
The other interest in the renovation of this road is of a safety order, especially on the Kasindi-Beni axis where ambush is set by ADF fighters against vehicles and words belonging to traders.
After their face-to-face meetings, the two presidents then opened the discussion circle for the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Two Countries to review military cooperation, particularly in the fight against the ADF, an armed movement originating in Uganda, rich in Benny’s territory and in part of the province of Ituri.
Military cooperation continues
For this mission, almost all the heads of the Congolese security services made the trip to Mpongwe, including the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff of the Congolese Army, the Military Governor of the North. Kivu, No. 1 of the National Intelligence Agency and Felix Tshisekedi’s special security adviser.
Prior to this meeting, several meetings were held between delegates from two armies in Beni, Kasindi or in Ugandan territory.
Officially, joint military operations are not yet considered. The exchange of information continues. Military cooperation between the two countries has made it possible in recent months to arrest several dozen ADF fighters in Uganda and the DRC. Some of them have been transferred to Kinshasa.
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