Kinshasa, March 24th, 2021 (CPA).-The Presidentof the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, current President of the African Union, received in audience, Tuesday at the city of the African Union, Mr. Othman Gerandi, Minister Tunisian Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, came to send him an invitation from his Tunisian counterpart, Kaïs Saïed, so that he takes part, next November, in the 18th Francophonie summit, scheduled for November next to the island of Djerba.
Bilateral cooperation between Kinshasa and Tunis was also on the menuof the meeting between President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi and the Tunisian statesman. The Head of State urged the Tunisian minister to always be at the forefront of strengthening cooperation between the two countries and the search for ways and means to diversify it in different areas, adding that Kinshasa and Tunis have already sealed a lot of deals in the past. The Tunisian President’s envoy, on this occasion, conveyed to the Head of State the « fraternal congratulations » of President Kaïs Saïed for his term at the head of the African Union and his wish to see African countries work together to peace and development.
According to Kaïs Saïed, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo will mark the development of the continent in various fields, in particular education, transport and academia.
He added that African states must, in this period of COVID-19, further strengthen their cooperation in the field of scientific research in order to deal with all other pandemics of the COVID-19 type that would arise in the days to come. . Regarding peace and security on the Continent, said Kaïs Saïed, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi is aware of the fact that peace could only benefit the continent when African countries come together to make people « talk » economy and growth and face all the challenges of the moment. MM. Guylain Nyembo Mbwizia and Christian Bushire, respectively Chief of Staff to the Head of State and Senior Advisor to the Diplomatic College attended this hearing.
Initially scheduled for Tunis in 2020, the 18th Francophonie summit has been postponed to November 20thand 21st, 2021 following the health crisis. Through the choice of Djerba, candidate for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, President Kaïs Saïed wanted to send « a strong message, confirm an ambitious objective, namely that of devoting decentralization and creating a new dynamic, an economic, social and cultural dynamic in southern Tunisia. » The presence of an international 33
BQ/ACP n° 5033du mercredi24mars 2021 JMB.-HHM.-/KUL.-PN.-VN.-INFO.-/LABIairport, a rich hotel infrastructure and conference rooms also dictated this choice. Djerba is an island on the Tunisian coast known for its Mediterranean beaches and white desert towns influenced by Berber, Arab, Jewish and African cultures. Its main city is Houmt Souk. It is famous for its artisanal markets, itsfishing port and its 16th century fortress, Borj el Kebir. To the south is the El Ghriba Synagogue, a place of pilgrimage for North African Jews the OIF has 88 states and governments, including 54 members, 7 associate members and 27 observers. ACP/Kayu/KJI