Regional cooperation to tackle DRC East security challenges
The Congolese Minister of Regional Integration, Floribert Anzuluni, met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on July 13 at the Kisozi presidential farm, 150 km from Kampala. Anzuluni carried a special message from President Félix Tshisekedi amid intensifying regional diplomacy and ongoing clashes between Congolese government forces and the AFC/M23 rebellion supported by Rwanda in eastern DRC.
Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to cooperate with DRC and regional partners to address persistent security challenges in eastern Congo. He emphasized the crucial role of regional cooperation in maintaining peace and stability for the prosperity of local populations.
«We discussed matters of common interest, particularly the security situation in eastern DRC. Peace and stability in our region remain essential for our people’s well-being. We will continue collaborating with regional partners to tackle challenges facing eastern Congo,» Museveni wrote on his X account.
Diplomatic context and regional dynamics
This meeting follows President Félix Tshisekedi’s official visit to Uganda on May 11-12, 2026, aimed at strengthening multisectoral partnership between Kinshasa and Kampala. During the visit, the two leaders held a private meeting at Entebbe State House before presiding over the signing of six cooperation agreements. These agreements were prepared and validated during the 9th session of the permanent joint commission between the two countries, which brought together 15 members from both governments.
The accords focus on:
- Interstate use of Search and Rescue (SAR) facilities and resources during peacetime
- Strengthening bilateral trade
- Public administration cooperation
- Information and communication technologies
- Export promotion
- Tourism development
Through these commitments, Kinshasa seeks to strengthen relations with Kampala in the Great Lakes region amid deteriorating relations with Kigali, which DRC accuses of supporting the AFC/M23 rebellion in eastern Congo. This diplomatic momentum occurs as peace initiatives in Washington and Doha struggle to yield concrete results despite some negotiation advances.