New York City, 24 September 2021 (TDI): On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a meeting with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union, Felix Tshisekedi. The meeting convened on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, New York City.
During the sitting, President Tshisekedi and Secretary Blinken emphasized cooperation on promoting security and democracy in the Great Lakes region, managing the crisis in Ethiopia, and taking effective measures on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute. The representatives also converged on shared regional and global priorities, including a course of action to combat COVID-19, the climate crisis, and security threats facing the world.
Moreover, the officials discussed their shared interests under the US-DRC Privileged Partnership for Peace, Prosperity, and Preservation. Secretary Blinken lauded President Tshisekedi’s leadership as the African Union Chairperson, including his efforts to enhance relations among the Great Lakes region countries and tackling the illicit trafficking of natural resources in the region. He further emphasized the United States’ resolve to use all possible means to end the Ethiopian conflict.
