Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
President Jacob Zuma to Co-Chair the 6th SA-DRC Bi-National Summit in Pretoria

dfa.gov.za - October 30, 2009
Joseph Kabila et Jacob Zuma

South African President Jacob Zuma will, on 30 October 2009, co-chair the SA-DRC Bi- National Summit with his Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart, President Joseph Kabila at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria. President Jacob Zuma will be supported by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and 11 other Government Ministers and Senior Officials.

The Bi-National meeting takes place within the context of consolidating African Agenda and strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and DRC. South Africa’s bilateral engagements with the DRC are informed by its vision of an “African Renaissance” of peace, stability and security and sustained renewal, growth and socio-economic development for the African Continent.

Accordingly, SA- DRC Bi-National Meeting will focus on crucial continued support for the Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) programme, guided by both South African and the DRC Government programme for 2007-2011. The programme’s priorities are: infrastructure, employment, education, water, electricity and health (with the consolidation of peace and national reconciliation, Security Sector Reform (SSR) and institutional capacity building and re-establishment of State authority as critical anchors).  Security Sector Reform in all its facets is crucial to the future security and stability of the DRC. The creation of a cohesive, competent and regularly-paid national army and police force would be a major step towards establishing lasting peace in the DRC.

The first session of the BNC was held in Kinshasa on 31 August 2004. Four Sectoral Commissions were established for the purpose of reviewing the progress in the implementation of commitments made between South Africa and the DRC in areas of Politics and Governance, Defence and Security, Economy, Finance and Infrastructure, Social and Humanitarian Affairs. The Fourth session of the BNC between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo took place in Kinshasa on 21 August 2007, and was the first meeting of the BNC since the DRC elections and the installation of the democratically elected DRC Government headed by President Kabila followed by the Fifth session of the BNC which was held on 3 April 2008 in Pretoria.

The overriding content of South Africa’s current bilateral relations with the DRC is aimed at assisting the country to develop capacity to effectively manage its programmes within the framework of its own Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) programme. The General Cooperation Agreement to promote political, economic and social cooperation between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was signed on 14 January 2004 and made provision for the establishment of a Bi-National Commission (BNC) as an annual forum for exchange and dialogue, with a strong focus on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development. The General Cooperation Agreement has meanwhile translated into a number of bilateral projects with a strong focus on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development.

South Africa remains furthermore committed to a strategy of post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) in the DRC that is aligned with that of the African Union and NEPAD. It therefore supports the DRC Government in its approach to issues related to the integration of the army; demobilisation and reinsertion into normal civilian life, especially in the rural areas; the promotion of small scale development projects that would assist local communities to facilitate the reintegration of demobilised soldiers; the issue of women in armed groups; the reintegration of disabled soldiers and the training of the integrated brigades. South Africa also supported the dialogue in the eastern DRC which concluded with groundbreaking agreements between government and a plethora of organized militia, thereby establishing the first real opportunity to bring peace to this tormented region of the country.


Related articles


  1. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  2. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  5. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  6. Jean-Pierre Bemba Returns to DR Congo (August 1, 2018)
  7. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  8. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  9. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  10. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  11. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  12. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  13. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  14. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  15. DR Congo reach final of African Nations Championship (February 3, 2016)
  16. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  17. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  18. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  19. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  20. Southern African Leaders to Meet in Zimbabwe (August 15, 2014)
  21. 15 dead in football match stampede in Kinshasa (May 12, 2014)
  22. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  23. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  24. Security Council extends UN mission, intervention force in DR Congo for one year (March 28, 2014)
  25. Death toll in Lake Albert boat accident rises to 108 people (March 24, 2014)
  26. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  27. New DR Congo amnesty law welcomed by UN envoys (February 5, 2014)
  28. DR Congo, M23 Rebels Sign Declarations Marking End of Kampala Peace Talks (December 12, 2013)
  29. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  30. Congo Army Takes Control of Mbuzi Hill From M23 Rebels (November 4, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.