The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday sent warm wishes to the Democratic Republic of Congo as it marked its 59th independence anniversary.
Pompeo hailed January’s peaceful transfer of power from former president Joseph Kabila to the incumbent Felix Tshisekedi, the first which the country has seen since it attained independence in 1960.
He noted that the developments in the country have provided a platform for better relations between the two countries.
“The recent transfer of power was historic, and today we salute your commitment to building a better, more stable and more prosperous future for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We appreciate this renewed opportunity to strengthen ties between our two nations through our Privileged Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which focuses on improving governance, promoting peace and security, combating corruption, advancing human rights, and creating conditions for greater U.S. investment and economic growth,” a statement from the Secretary of State read.
During president Kabila’s reign, the U.S. often criticized the government’s commitment to the rule of law and democracy.
The two sides are however now enjoying budding relations, which Pompeo in his statement said the U.S. “looks forward to our continued partnership in the years ahead.”
