The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Saturday rejected signing a security cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between the East African Community bloc and China.
DRC demanded that the EAC first condemns the M23 rebellion, otherwise Kinshasa would not append a signature on the security cooperation MOU.
This Security cooperation arose during the first ministerial dialogue focused on international cooperation of the police chiefs of East African countries and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (EAPCCO).
Jacquemain Shabani Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior and Security represented the Congolese government at the Ministerial dialogue.
Nevertheless, the head of Congolese security expressed the DRC’s wish to maintain cooperation with the EAC bloc with a view to improving the well-being of the population and its security.
“Allow me, as Minister of the Interior of the DRC, to underline our reservation regarding its commitment to this memorandum of understanding that was signed today. Being a member of the East African community, mastering and realizing the values and principles of our community, which were recalled during our discussions today, among others the protection of the territories of our different countries, principles violated against our country, the Democratic Republic of Congo and until now never condemned by the East African community. The DRC expresses its reservation and will prioritize its bilateral relationship between it and the People’s Republic of China,” Shabani said.
Shabani stressed the importance of the first ministerial dialogue, which, for him, is part of the construction of a new platform for cooperation in law enforcement with a view to a security-sharing community between China and East Africa, of which the DRC is a member.
Jacquemain Shabani specified that his country will instead favor bilateral Sino-Congolese cooperation.
