Tshisekedi’s Diplomatic Marathon: Paris to Brazil for Peace

Kinshasa, DRC — From Paris to Cairo, Doha to Belém, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has spent the final weeks of October 2025 leading a whirlwind series of international engagements, a “final four” diplomatic marathon aimed at achieving peace in the Great Lakes, renewing alliances, and securing global recognition of Congo’s leadership.

The tour, which began on 30 October in Paris, confirmed Tshisekedi’s growing stature as both a peacemaker and a statesman driving Africa’s green and social transformation.

1. Paris — The Peace Conference for the Great Lakes

At the Paris Conference on Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region, President Tshisekedi once again extended an olive branch to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, urging him to “make the peace of the brave” and to end Rwanda’s war of aggression in eastern Congo.

He presented the security and humanitarian crisis in the east and appealed to world leaders to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 2773, which condemns Rwanda’s military involvement.

“This resolution must be implemented. Peace in the Great Lakes begins with justice for the Congolese people,” he told delegates.

His message resonated: diplomatic observers noted that Tshisekedi spoke not only as a national leader but as a regional stabiliser backed by African and international consensus.

2. Cairo — Reinforcing Historical Ties with Egypt

On 31 October, President Tshisekedi arrived in Cairo for a meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation dating back to 1960 and agreed to expand military and technical collaboration initiated under Tshisekedi’s 2022 defence accords.

The meeting also explored water management, agriculture, and training cooperation, reviving the spirit of early Congolese-Egyptian solidarity.

“Our friendship is not new; it is a partnership of trust built over decades,” Tshisekedi said.

3. Doha — Social Development and a Human-Centred Agenda

From Egypt, the President flew to Doha, Qatar, where he addressed the Second World Summit for Social Development (4–6 November) under UN auspices.

From the podium of the National Congress Center, he declared that “social development only makes sense if it places human dignity at the heart of public action.”

“From the start of my mandate, I chose to rebuild a fairer country, breaking with the extractive model to create an economy focused on people, justice, and equal opportunity,” he told global delegates.

On the sidelines, Tshisekedi held bilateral talks with King Philippe of Belgium and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

• With King Philippe — The Green Kivu–Kinshasa Corridor

The Belgian monarch reaffirmed support for the ‘Green Kivu–Kinshasa Corridor’, a flagship humanitarian and environmental project first launched at Davos 2025 to secure and reconnect eastern Congo. King Philippe promised Belgium’s development agency Enabel and private sector backing.

• With the Emir of Qatar — Peace and Investment

Talks with the Emir centred on Qatar’s forthcoming state visit to Kinshasa and the evaluation of the Doha and Washington peace processes, both of which Tshisekedi announced are nearing completion.

“The Doha and Washington Processes will soon reach a successful conclusion,” he told the Congolese diaspora in Brazil days later. “The White House will send us the official invitation to sign the Peace Agreement.”

4. Belém — Climate Leadership at COP 30

The final stop of the tour was Belém do Pará, Brazil, where Tshisekedi joined world leaders at the COP 30 Climate Summit. Reaffirming the DRC’s role as a “solution country,” he called for urgent action to protect the planet’s forests.

“Ten years after the Paris Agreement, it is time for action,” he said. “We must rebalance funding between mitigation and adaptation. Those already suffering climate shocks deserve protection today, not promises tomorrow.”

During his bilateral meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the two leaders agreed to deepen South-South cooperation in security, trade, and agriculture, strengthening the partnership between Africa’s and South America’s green powers.

A Vision of Peace, Sovereignty, and Global Credibility

President Tshisekedi’s four-nation tour underscores a diplomatic strategy built on peace through dialogue, sovereignty through cooperation, and credibility through results.

By engaging in both security and social diplomacy, encompassing conflict resolution, climate change, and development, the Congolese leader positioned his country as a bridge between continents and a key actor in global governance.

“Congo’s future lies not in war or dependence, but in cooperation and human progress,” Tshisekedi concluded.

As the year ends, the “final four” may be remembered as the moment when Congo’s diplomacy matured into global influence, driven by persistence, vision, and a clear commitment to peace.