What You Need to Know
President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo met with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss the escalating security crisis in Eastern Congo. The leaders focused on the ongoing armed conflict in the Kivu regions and explored potential peaceful solutions to the crisis, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration between the two nations.
Africa. President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, discussed the escalating security crisis in Eastern Congo during a brief official visit by Tshisekedi to the Angolan capital on January 5, 2026.
Tshisekedi left Kinshasa around 11 a.m. heading to Luanda, where he held a bilateral meeting with President João Lourenço, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the African Union. The visit lasted several hours before Tshisekedi returned to his country in the afternoon.
The discussions primarily focused on the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the North and South Kivu provinces, where armed conflict continues between Congolese government forces and their allies on one side, and the armed group “Democratic Republic of Congo Alliance/March 23 Movement” on the other, which Kinshasa accuses neighboring Rwanda of supporting.
President Félix Tshisekedi stated that this visit was initiated by his Angolan counterpart, noting that Lourenço presented proposals he described as “extremely interesting” in the context of efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the crisis. However, Tshisekedi emphasized that the ground situation remains dangerous, describing it as a “war situation imposed on us.”
Angola is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s key allies in this crisis, with President João Lourenço playing a pivotal role in launching what is known as the “Luanda Process,” aimed at bridging the gap between Kinshasa and Kigali and attempting to contain tensions between the two countries.
The Congolese president is keen on maintaining ongoing consultations with his Angolan counterpart, which explains his repeated visits to this Portuguese-speaking country, the southern neighbor of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tshisekedi visited Luanda in late November to participate in the Africa-Europe summit and returned again in mid-December for another bilateral visit.
João Lourenço currently chairs the African Union and is expected to relinquish this position during the upcoming summit in about a month, with the presidency anticipated to pass to Burundi, which is also an ally of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the region, especially amid the security tensions in the east.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced persistent security challenges, particularly in its eastern regions, where various armed groups operate. The conflict has deep historical roots, often exacerbated by regional tensions and foreign interventions. Angola has emerged as a key ally for Congo, particularly in diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the region and fostering dialogue between conflicting parties.
