At the third Russia–Africa Summit, President Félix Tshisekedi presented the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s vision for international cooperation built around peace, national sovereignty, job creation, local industrialisation and a stronger African voice in global decision-making.
MOSCOW — October 30, 2026
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has reaffirmed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s determination to pursue an independent and diversified foreign policy that delivers concrete results for the Congolese people.
Addressing the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on Thursday, October 29, the Head of State placed peace, security, productive investment and African representation at the centre of the DRC’s engagement with Russia and other international partners.
“For us, diversifying our partnerships is not choosing a side: it is strengthening our freedom of decision-making in the service of our populations,” President Tshisekedi declared.
The message, also highlighted by Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise, reflects a sovereignty-first approach: the DRC is open to cooperation with all serious partners while preserving its strategic autonomy and ensuring that international relations serve national priorities.
Peace in Eastern Congo Remains the First Priority
President Tshisekedi used the Moscow platform to renew the DRC’s call for stronger international support for lasting peace in the eastern part of the country.
He urged Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to support the full implementation of Resolutions 2773 and 2808, alongside diplomatic efforts being pursued through the Washington and Doha processes.
According to the Agence Congolaise de Presse, the President stressed the importance of ending hostilities, protecting civilians, restoring State authority and creating the conditions for displaced Congolese families to return home safely and with dignity.
POLITICS & DIPLOMACY
Tshisekedi Champions Peace, Jobs and Africa’s Voice in Moscow
Oct 30, 2026
Oct 30, 2026
7 min read
Published
Updated:
At the third Russia–Africa Summit, President Félix Tshisekedi presented the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s vision for international cooperation built around peace, national sovereignty, job creation, local industrialisation and a stronger African voice in global decision-making.
MOSCOW — October 30, 2026
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has reaffirmed the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s determination to pursue an independent and diversified foreign policy that delivers concrete results for the Congolese people.
Addressing the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on Thursday, October 29, the Head of State placed peace, security, productive investment and African representation at the centre of the DRC’s engagement with Russia and other international partners.
“For us, diversifying our partnerships is not choosing a side: it is strengthening our freedom of decision-making in the service of our populations,” President Tshisekedi declared.
The message, also highlighted by Radio-Télévision Nationale Congolaise, reflects a sovereignty-first approach: the DRC is open to cooperation with all serious partners while preserving its strategic autonomy and ensuring that international relations serve national priorities.
Peace in Eastern Congo Remains the First Priority
President Tshisekedi used the Moscow platform to renew the DRC’s call for stronger international support for lasting peace in the eastern part of the country.
He urged Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to support the full implementation of Resolutions 2773 and 2808, alongside diplomatic efforts being pursued through the Washington and Doha processes.
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According to the Agence Congolaise de Presse, the President stressed the importance of ending hostilities, protecting civilians, restoring State authority and creating the conditions for displaced Congolese families to return home safely and with dignity.
He also drew attention to the illegal exploitation of natural resources that continues to finance instability in the region. For the Congolese government, peace and responsible resource governance are inseparable: national wealth must contribute to development, not insecurity.
The President’s appeal in Moscow reinforced the DRC’s consistent diplomatic position—international commitments must be translated into action, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country must be respected.
Jobs, Energy and Infrastructure at the Centre of Cooperation
Beyond security, President Tshisekedi outlined the economic priorities that should guide the next phase of cooperation between the DRC, Russia and the wider international community.
He identified employment, electricity, infrastructure, food security and industrial development as essential areas in which partnerships must produce visible benefits for the population.
As reported by Actualite.cd, the Head of State called for viable projects supported by clear financing, realistic implementation schedules, technology transfer, professional training and the participation of Congolese companies.
This approach places Congolese workers, engineers, entrepreneurs and businesses at the heart of international cooperation. It also supports the government’s broader objective of strengthening national production capacity and creating sustainable employment, particularly for young people.
In the energy sector, President Tshisekedi highlighted the DRC’s significant potential, including hydropower and other peaceful energy applications. Expanding access to reliable electricity remains essential for households, schools, hospitals, farms and industries across the country.
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Transforming Congolese Minerals at Home
President Tshisekedi again defended the DRC’s ambition to move beyond the simple export of raw materials and develop competitive local value chains.
The country’s mineral resources can support factories, technical training, research, infrastructure and quality employment when a greater share of processing and transformation takes place on Congolese soil.
This vision is central to the government’s industrialisation policy. By encouraging local processing, technology transfer and the participation of domestic companies, the DRC aims to convert its natural resources into broader and more durable prosperity.
The President’s message to partners was clear: cooperation must strengthen Congolese capacity, add value within the national economy and create opportunities that citizens can feel in their daily lives.
A Stronger African Voice in Global Governance
The Head of State also renewed his call for reform of the United Nations Security Council so that Africa can receive fairer and more effective representation in global decision-making.
He aligned this position with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which express the African continent’s long-standing demand for a more equitable international system.
The Agence Congolaise de Presse reported that President Tshisekedi framed stronger African representation as one of the concrete results that citizens should expect from international summits and diplomatic partnerships.
For the DRC, the reform of global institutions is not only a question of representation. It is also about ensuring that African priorities—including peace, development, climate resilience, infrastructure and economic transformation—are fully considered in decisions that affect the continent.
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The DRC Brings an Independent Voice to the Security Council
As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing to play an active role in promoting dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution and respect for international law.
President Tshisekedi indicated that the DRC would bring this constructive approach to major international questions, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The Congolese position is grounded in diplomacy, civilian protection and negotiated solutions. It also reflects the experience of a country that understands the human and economic cost of prolonged conflict and therefore supports dialogue wherever it can help restore peace.
Cooperation Must Be Measured by Results
President Tshisekedi called for a practical model of cooperation built around a limited number of priority projects, identified sources of financing, realistic timelines and regular monitoring.
This results-based approach is designed to ensure that summit declarations become projects capable of strengthening security, expanding productive capacity and improving citizens’ lives.
“More security, increased capacity to produce, a better-heard African voice: it is in the light of these three results that our peoples will judge our meeting,” the President concluded.
His address in Moscow positioned the DRC as a sovereign, ambitious and solutions-oriented African nation—ready to work with diversified partners while keeping peace, jobs, industrialisation and the interests of the Congolese people at the centre of every engagement.
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