Kinshasa, August 10th, 2025 (CPA).– A cultural cooperation agreement has been signed on August 8th 2025 in Montevideo between the Republic of Uruguay and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), represented by its Minister in charge of Culture, Yolande Elebe, on a high-level government mission to Latin America, according to an official communique received on Friday by CPA. “(…) Among the highlights of the Uruguayan leg of the trip have been the signing of a cultural cooperation agreement between DRC and Uruguay, as well as a bilateral meeting between the two ministers in charge of culture. The discussions have focused in particular on: promoting Afro-descendant heritage (rumba and candombe), » according to the statement from the Ministry in charge of Culture. ‘(…) The Congolese Minister in charge of culture, arts and heritage and her Uruguayan counterpart have also had a legislative exchange on copyright and intellectual property. The two countries have also discussed twinning projects between cultural institutions, joint digital exhibitions and artistic exchanges,’ the source has added.
According to the document, this cultural partnership, alongside other agreements concluded with strategic sectors, marks the return of DRC to South America after a forty-year absence. This partnership reaffirms the vision of diplomacy between peoples, where culture becomes a lever for development, international influence and rapprochement, it is read. According to the press release, the Minister in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo, has been also received by the President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, alongside other members of the Congolese Government, including Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of National Defence; Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of State, Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie; Eve Bazaiba Masudi, Minister of State, Minister in charge of the Environment; Julien Paluku, Minister in charge of Foreign Trade; and Catherina Mbuyi, Senior Advisor to the Head of State on Geopolitics and Diplomacy.
‘Led by the Head of State Felix Tshisekedi and as part of Prime Minister Suminwa Tuluka’s roadmap, this government delegation mission reflects DRC’s desire to strengthen its strategic partnerships in a spirit of South-South cooperation,’ the statement has revealed. It should be noted that after the Uruguay leg of the trip, the Congolese Minister in charge of culture, who remains in the government after the reshuffle, will continue her Latin American mission in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. CPA/