Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo have said that the two countries will continue prioritizing stability and development through close cooperation.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Africa CEO Forum 2019 held in Kigali since Monday, the two leaders emphasized their intentions of working closely for the common interest of citizens from both countries and that they would not be frazzled by insignificant issues.
“We want to be serious with matters of stability, development and we can’t achieve that without cooperation, working together, and focusing on the common interest of our countries and people which we should be representing.” Kagame said.
Despite any challenges that might have existed before, President Kagame said there’s much progress to be made if they are to focus on the priorities of the people.
President Kagame said available resources would be used to change people’s lives as opposed to focusing on challenges such as inefficiencies and inadequate resources in within the region.
“We have sufficient resources within ourselves to deal with these matters,” he said.
As unity talks may have dominated the event, Kagame added that challenges and differences of opinions should not derail regional integration between the two countries and that people should be left to work together.
Echoing Kagame, Tshisekedi who was on his first visit to Rwanda since he took office in January, said that both Rwanda and DR Congo with a privilege of neighborhood would strengthen ties and walk together.
“We will be neighbors forever. As leaders, we are here temporarily but our countries will be there forever. Conflicting would be a waste of time that would be used to develop our countries.” Tshisekedi Said.
President Tshisekedi further commented on the armed militia destabilizing the two countries and urged that they would be neutralized through demobilization and reintegration programs.
Due to frequent interference by external parties, Kagame retaliated and said that those were signs of bad politics which should not be condoned.
“If you think that you don’t like Kagame or Rwanda because what should happen is supposed to be dependent of you, your views and decisions, this is bad politics,” he said
Rwanda and DR Congo are collaborating on the implementation of a simplified clearance procedure under Common Market For Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The two countries are also members of the Economic Community for the Great Lakes Region (CEPGL).
The panel discussion that brought more than 2000 business leaders across the globe, as well as Presidents Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Gon Coulibaly of Ivory Coast, marked the end of the two-day Africa CEO Forum.
