Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye Renew Call for African Solutions

Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye have renewed their call for African-led responses to the continent's challenges, emphasizing unity, solidarity, and stronger regional cooperation during the Burundian leader's two-day State Visit to Kinshasa.

Speaking at a joint press conference marking the end of the visit, the two leaders stressed that Africa must take greater ownership of its future as it confronts security threats, health crises, climate change, economic pressures, and the aspirations of a rapidly growing youth population.

"We reaffirmed our common attachment to African solutions to African problems," President Tshisekedi declared.

The Congolese leader said discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in several strategic sectors, including infrastructure, regional security, and public health. He also praised President Ndayishimiye, who currently serves as Chairperson of the African Union, for his commitment to peace and stability across the continent.

A Shared Vision for Africa

According to Tshisekedi, the challenges facing Africa require more than isolated national responses.

"The health challenges confronting Africa call for greater solidarity among states, stronger regional cooperation, and continuous mobilization of continental prevention and early-warning mechanisms," he said.

The two presidents argued that Africa must speak with greater coherence, act with greater solidarity, and defend its strategic interests more firmly on the international stage.

Their message comes at a time when many African countries are grappling with humanitarian crises, economic uncertainty, climate-related disasters, and growing demands for jobs and opportunities from young people.

Security Remains a Top Priority

While the leaders discussed continental issues, security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remained at the center of their talks.

The region continues to face instability caused by armed groups, creating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises and displacing millions of civilians.

At the conclusion of the visit, officials described security as the dominant theme of the bilateral discussions.

"The key word is security," a moderator noted at the end of the press conference. "Both heads of state are mobilizing their efforts for security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo."

Burundi has emerged as one of Kinshasa's closest security partners in recent years, with Burundian forces supporting efforts to combat armed groups operating near the shared border.

Regional Support for the Ebola Response

The discussions also touched on the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, where Congolese authorities have intensified response efforts.

President Ndayishimiye used the occasion to encourage countries to keep their borders open to the Democratic Republic of Congo while maintaining health screening measures.

Health experts participating in the briefing explained that Ebola can be effectively monitored through temperature checks and basic health controls at border crossings, reducing the need for blanket restrictions.

The message was welcomed by officials leading the response, who stressed the importance of regional cooperation in preventing panic and unnecessary isolation.

Tshisekedi to Visit Ituri

One of the major announcements from the press conference was President Tshisekedi's decision to travel to Ituri Province, including the affected areas of Mongwalu and Bunia.

The visit is intended to support health workers and communities battling the outbreak while demonstrating the government's commitment to ending the crisis.

Health Minister Roger Kamba reported that response efforts are beginning to show results, with more patients seeking treatment earlier and a growing number of recoveries being recorded.

"We now have a very solid and robust response on the ground," Kamba said.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya added that authorities are fighting not only the disease itself but also misinformation surrounding the outbreak.

"One of the fronts is disinformation," Muyaya said. "Today we are seeing that some of those participating in these campaigns no longer hide. But the government remains fully mobilized."

According to officials, increased public awareness has helped improve trust in health services and contributed to a rise in testing and treatment.