On Friday, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi received a delegation of 11 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who reaffirmed the EU’s support for his leadership and expressed a strong desire for the European Union to play a greater role in resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly following the EU Parliament’s unanimous condemnation of Rwanda.
According to the DRC Presidency, the MEPs delivered a message of solidarity from the European Union to the Congolese government.
MEP Hilde Vautmans, who led the delegation, stated that they discussed a range of key issues, including humanitarian assistance for victims, combating sexual violence used as a weapon of war, and ongoing peace processes.
She condemned the sexual violence in strong terms, declaring:
“Enough is enough. This must stop.”
Addressing diplomatic efforts like the Luanda and Nairobi processes, as well as peace talks held in Doha and Washington, one MEP commented:
“Europe can contribute, as it has already passed a resolution condemning Rwanda’s aggression.”
Their visit follows an invitation by the President of the Congolese Senate, Sama Lukonde Kyenge, during his visit to the EU headquarters on March 27, 2025, according to Radio Okapi.
However, this visit is part of a broader European push to regain influence in the Congo peace process, from which it appears to have been sidelined in favor of actors like the African Union, the United States, and more recently Qatar. The EU’s absence at the negotiation table is a growing concern, particularly for countries like Belgium and France.
