News

DR Congo leader hails historic ties in Erdogan visit

February 21, 2022 03:55 AM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

"Win-win" security and economic deals were reached during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "historic" official visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the African country's leader said on Sunday.

President Felix Tshisekedi met with his counterpart, who was backed by a delegation of Turkish government members and businessmen, in the capital Kinshasa for a two-day visit.

He said the DRC and Turkey reached "win-win" cooperation agreements on security, infrastructure, health and transport, hailing a "historic day" for relations between the nations after speaking with Erdogan.

Tshisekedi added that the DRC requested Turkish assistance in the long-running fight against militias in the conflict-torn east of the country.

Erdogan's African tour, from February 20 to 23, will move on to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau after his DRC trip.

It follows bilateral meetings held between the two heads of state last year.

In September, Tshisekedi paid an official visit to Ankara on the theme of economic cooperation and travelled to Istanbul in December where he took part in a Turkey-Africa summit.

Relations between Ankara and Kinshasa have been good for several years and the volume of Turkish investments in the DRC continues to grow.

Bilateral trade between the two amounts to about $40 million, but Turkey is seeking to strengthen its presence in Africa.

Since 2003, the volume of its trade with the continent has increased from $2 billion to at least $25 billion.

Erdogan has visited Africa nearly 40 times since 2005, as prime minister and president, since when Turkey has opened some 40 embassies on the continent.

Turkey's influence covers the realm of defence with Ankara inaugurating its first African military base in 2017 in Somalia.

The DRC faces insecurity in its eastern region due to the presence of dozens of armed groups that regularly threaten civilians.

Military operations are underway against these groups, which include the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Islamic State's branch in Central Africa blamed for thousands of killings in the eastern DRC.



Most Read

  1. Public Holiday announced in Lahore tomorrow Public Holiday announced in Lahore tomorrow
  2. Nazish Jahangir to hit any marriage proposal from Babar Azam out of the ground Nazish Jahangir to hit any marriage proposal from Babar Azam out of the ground
  3. Iranian First Lady visits Numl Iranian First Lady visits Numl
  4. Madiha Rizvi ties the knot again Madiha Rizvi ties the knot again
  5. Pakistan, Iran sign raft of accords to bolster bilateral cooperation Pakistan, Iran sign raft of accords to bolster bilateral cooperation
  6. Zara Noor Abbas inspired by Rani Mukerji Zara Noor Abbas inspired by Rani Mukerji

Opinion

  1. Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy
    Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy

    By Salim Bokhari

  2. Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph
    Insights into the Pakistan Stock Exchange's Recent Record High Triumph

    By Zulfiqar Ali Mir

  3. IMEC to sabotage CPEC
    IMEC to sabotage CPEC

    By Dr Asif Channer

  4. 1947 TO FORM 47
    1947 TO FORM 47

    By Dr Asif Channer

  5. Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....
    Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....

    By Ali Ramay

  6. Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses
    Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses

    By Ali Ramay