On November 10, 2026, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, spoke at the OEACP-EU parliamentary assembly in Brussels. The assembly, which brings together representatives from the European Parliament and the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States, focused on the theme "Beyond the Horizon, for a Common Vision." Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized the need for a partnership based on dialogue, solidarity, and mutual respect between African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries and the European Union.
In her address, Kayikwamba Wagner stressed the importance of translating this common vision into concrete commitments that benefit the populations. She highlighted that a common vision should not be limited to a convergence of discourses but must result in tangible outcomes. The Minister of State emphasized that the partnership must go beyond traditional aid and become a genuine lever for peace, economic transformation, and shared prosperity. She also underscored the Democratic Republic of the Congo's ambition to play a leading role in constructing greener and more sustainable economies.
Kayikwamba Wagner noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with its exceptional environmental heritage and strategic resources essential for the global energy transition, aims to be a key player in the construction of more sustainable economies. However, she emphasized that the country's ambition goes beyond the provision of raw materials, as it seeks to be a full-fledged actor in this transformation through green industrialization, local transformation, technology transfer, and value creation on its territory.
The Minister of State also emphasized that the prosperity and peace of the Democratic Republic of the Congo depend on the respect of the principles of the United Nations Charter, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international law. She recalled that the situation in the east of the country, where the Rwandan aggression continues to have devastating humanitarian consequences, requires a coherent and determined defense of international law.
Kayikwamba Wagner denounced the Rwandan aggression in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which continues to have devastating humanitarian consequences. She called on the European partners of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to be consistent and determined in defending international law, stressing that it cannot be defended with conviction in certain regions and applied with hesitation in others. The Minister of State recalled that the resolutions 2773 and 2808 of the Security Council require the withdrawal of Rwandan forces and respect for ceasefire commitments.
The OEACP-EU parliamentary assembly brings together nearly two billion people and represents more than half of the members of the United Nations. The assembly provides a unique forum for political dialogue, parliamentary cooperation, and exchange of views between Europe and its African, Caribbean, and Pacific partners. In a context of profound geopolitical transformation, increasing pressure on the multilateral system, and calls for a more equitable international order, the session in Brussels offers parliamentarians the opportunity to discuss common global challenges and strengthen the strategic relevance of the OEACP-EU partnership.
The session of the OEACP-EU parliamentary assembly addresses several issues of common interest, including global security and multilateralism in an increasingly interconnected, multipolar, and fragmented world. The meeting takes place in a context marked by the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, due to the continued Rwandan aggression and the mutation of the AFC/M23 rebellion into the FRN, led by Joseph Kabila, the former head of state.
Key points
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister calls on the European Union to defend international law with conviction and consistency.
- Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner emphasizes the need for a partnership based on dialogue, solidarity, and mutual respect between African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries and the European Union.
- The situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo requires a coherent and determined defense of international law.
