Kinshasa, November 19th, 2025 (CPA). – The Congolese government expressed its desire to strengthen its partnership with the European Union (EU) in order to succeed in its plan for “total” pacification of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday at the opening of the “partnership dialogue” with the organization in the capital, Kinshasa. « At the end of this dialogue, we sincerely hope that our partnership will be strengthened in the following areas: first, economic and industrial transition. Our common challenge is to transform our mineral wealth into sustainable added value for our people through industrialization; second, security and stability. The complete pacification of the DRC remains an absolute priority. We welcome the European Union’s support for the reform of our security sector. We would like to see more coordinated support, aligned with our priorities, particularly in terms of protecting civilians and local governance (…)« , said Jean-Pierre Bemba, Deputy Prime Minister for Transport, opening the discussions on behalf of the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo, a pivotal country in the global climate, expects enhanced cooperation to protect its forests, enhance its ecosystem services, and maintain competitive access to the European market in compliance with new environmental requirements,” he added, referring to the green and diversified economy. Mr. Bemba rightly praised the concrete benefits of the DRC-EU partnership, which has enabled significant progress, notably through investments via the Global Gateway, the Lobitho Corridor, the electrification of Kisangani, and our cooperation in the field of critical raw materials.
A stronger partnership on a more equitable basis
Group photo of participants
Speaking next, Minister of State in charge of Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba listed five topics for discussion that should lead to a stronger partnership on a more equitable basis, including critical minerals in relation to European regulations and related rules. Five major themes structure our discussions: peace and security, which remain at the heart of concerns related to the democratic legitimacy of the DRC, particularly in view of the persistent challenges in the east of our country; critical minerals and the European regulation and related regulations, a subject of shared interest requiring technical dialogue, mutual understanding, and pragmatic solutions; the environment and climate change, areas in which the Democratic Republic of Congo, a “solution country” par excellence, calls for enhanced cooperation and better-defined partnerships; The Global Gateway strategy, which must align with our national development priorities; And finally, the issue of mobility, particularly in terms of migration, which requires a more balanced approach to applications. “We are approaching these issues with an open mind, but also with the firm conviction that our partnership must be strengthened on a more equitable basis, in line with the strategic interests of both parties,” she concluded.