Senators plan DRC diplomacy trip

The Senatorial standing committee on foreign affairs, cooperation and security will meet today and tomorrow, to discuss a planned trip by a group os senators to the DR Congo.Senator Jean-Damascène Bizimana, the chairperson of the committee, confirmed that the trip, which is expected to take place next month, is in line with the Rwanda-DR Congo parliamentary diplomacy arrangement cultivated early May during a visit to Kigali by Congolese Senate president Léon Kengo wa Dondo.During the visit, Kengo agreed with his Rwandan counterpart, Dr Jean Damascène Ntawukuliryayo, to ensure constant dialogue on matters of mutual interest so as to spur parliamentary ties and help resolve regional conflicts.In their meeting, the two parties agreed to mainly focus on the revitalisation of the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), which brings together Rwanda, the DR Congo and Burundi.Constant dialogue needed “We will meet to plan for this reciprocal visit. They invited us and they will be the ones to set the agenda for the next session which will be held next month,” Bizimana said. “It will be a parliamentary diplomacy mission with focus on the way forward regarding cooperation between the two parliaments as well as any efforts that can enhance regional security.”After their first planning meeting today, the committee will, tomorrow, again meet to review and possibly approve their working document.In May, Kengo underscored that constant dialogue is key if the two countries are to overcome regional conflicts, particularly in his country’s war-torn eastern provinces of South and North Kivu, where several armed militias continue to kill, torture and loot.The Rwanda-DRC senatorial discourse is also looking into how to complement actions by their respective governments with a view to finding a sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis.

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Senators plan DRC diplomacy trip