On September 29, 2026, in Rome, Italy, the Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement was signed by Congolese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, and MED'OR President, Marco Minniti. This signing ceremony marks a significant step in rekindling the partnership between the two parties.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the general framework for partnership and guiding principles for future consultations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR. Minister Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized that this agreement should not be just another signed document to be kept in drawers. She stressed the need to inject new dynamism into bilateral cooperation through strategic dialogue, seminars, workshops, and identification of projects focused on sectoral capacity building and development cooperation.
The areas of focus for cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR include higher education and scholarships, cyber resilience and advanced technologies such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space, and telecommunications. Additionally, the agreement covers geopolitical analysis and security, as well as support for public policies and industrial integration, particularly in support of the Mattei Plan.
Minister Kayikwamba Wagner proposed organizing high-impact actions, expert missions, specific arrangements, and expressions of interest from the private sector in the coming months. This aims to achieve more strategic, tangible, and structured cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is expected to revitalize the partnership between the two parties.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Marco Minniti, President of MED'OR. The Congolese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed her satisfaction with the signing of this instrument, which puts an end to a period of inactivity in the partnership. She emphasized the importance of implementing the agreed-upon actions to ensure a more effective cooperation.
The partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR is expected to yield positive results in various sectors. The areas of cooperation identified will be crucial in strengthening the capacities of the Congolese people. The agreement is a significant step towards achieving the objectives of the Mattei Plan, which aims to promote sustainable development and cooperation between Italy and African countries.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR is a testament to the commitment of both parties to strengthen their cooperation. The agreement is expected to have a positive impact on the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Key areas of cooperation will be closely monitored to ensure the effective implementation of the agreed-upon actions.
Key points
- The Democratic Republic of Congo and MED'OR have agreed to focus on higher education, cyber resilience, and advanced technologies in their cooperation.
