It was at 4 p.m. local time that Denis Sassou-N'Guesso's helicopter landed in front of the brand new presidential palace in Kinshasa. Upon his arrival,, the president of Congo-Brazzaville was welcomed by his counterpart Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi. After the usual greetings, the two men headed to the Spanish villa overlooking the Congo River.

It is a private visit, mentions a head of the communication unit of the presidency in Kinshasa. And the absence of the respective national anthems during the welcoming ceremony seems to confirm this private character. Nevertheless, the face-to-face talks that began just after President Sassou's arrival should make it possible to clear up some misunderstandings on certain topics, and more scpecifically on the events in Kwamouth, in the west of the DRC. 

Indeed, for the local populations who have been involved in deadly confrontation for several weeks, those who are stirring up this conflict are Rwandan nationals who have settled on the opposite bank, in Congo-Brazzaville, where they have invested and acquired thousands of hectares of land to farm, they say. This visit by President Denis Sassou-N'Guesso is a good opportunity to reassure his neighbor Felix Tshisekedi on this issue.

Source : RFI
Date : 09-10-2022