LUBUMBASHI — The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Zambia on Tuesday opened the 14th session of their Joint Standing Commission on Defense and Security, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation on regional stability and cross-border security.

The session, which runs from January 13 to January 16, 2026, is being held in Lubumbashi, in the southeastern DRC, and will unfold in two stages, according to Congolese authorities.

Experts’ Open Proceedings

The first phase brings together technical experts from both countries and is being co-chaired by General Jean Baelongandi Iteku, Chief of Staff to the DRC’s Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Interior and Security, and Makambo Haamaundu, Permanent Secretary at Zambia’s Ministry of Defence.

In his opening address, General Baelongandi highlighted the difficult regional security environment in which the session is taking place, pointing in particular to the ongoing instability in eastern DRC. He expressed concern over what he described as aggression against Congolese territory and stressed the need for strengthened cooperation with neighboring countries.

Ministerial Session Scheduled

A ministerial-level meeting is scheduled for January 15 and will be jointly chaired by Shabani Lukoo Bihango Jacquemain, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security, Decentralization, and Customary Affairs of the DRC, and Ambrose Lwijii Lufuma, Zambia’s Minister of Defence.

The ministerial segment is expected to review the conclusions reached by the experts and set strategic directions for future collaboration.

Three Key Areas of Cooperation

During the session, three specialized subcommittees will examine priority areas of bilateral cooperation: Public Security, Defense, and State Security