Communique on SA–DRC Binational Commission

16 March 2006

At the invitation of H.E. Mr Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Mr Thabo Mbeki, President of the RSA, paid
an official visit to Kinshasa, DRC from 15 to 16 March 2006. This visit falls
within the framework of the third session of the RSA-DRC Bi-national
Commission.

In this regard, H.E. President Thabo Mbeki led a delegation consisting of
eight Ministers, two Deputy Ministers and senior officials form various
government departments in the Republic of South Africa.

The Congolese delegation on the other hand, led by H.E. President Joseph
Kabila was composed of the four Vice Presidents and 10 Ministers involved in
the various co-operation projects with South Africa.

The meeting of the two Heads of State was preceded by a meeting of senior
officials of RSA and the DRC, from 9 to 13 March, in order to prepare for the
ministerial meeting which took place on Wednesday, 15 March 2006.

The work of the experts and the Ministerial Meeting reviewed the level of
implementation of the commitments made by the two Parties during previous
meetings, especially during the second BNC that took place from 27 to 29 April
2005 in Pretoria, RSA.

The present session of the BNC was also an occasion for the two delegations
to assess progress made by the DRC in the vital areas of national
reconstruction and especially in achieving the main objective of the
transition, in particular, the organization of free, democratic and transparent
elections.

During the meetings between the two delegation and the two Heads of State,
Presidents Joseph Kabila and Thabo Mbeki, consensus was reached on various
matters of common interest especially with regard to bilateral co-operation and
regional and international issues. The two Heads of State expressed
appreciation for the level of implementation of the decisions taken by the two
Governments.

It is important to note that during their meeting, the two Heads of State
and their respective delegations, expressed particular interest in the progress
made pertaining to the preparations for the elections to be held in the
DRC.

Various key areas requiring urgent intervention in preparation for the
elections were identified. Consensus was reached on the need to enhance
security as well as the institutional and human capacity of the Electoral
Commission (IEC).

In the framework of support for the development effort of the DRC, three
agreements were signed, namely an Agreement on Co-operation in the Field of
Maritime Transport, Agreement on Decentralisation and a Memorandum of
Understanding on Education Co-operation, which brings to 26 the number of
agreements signed between the two countries.

The two Heads of State expressed their satisfaction regarding the tangible
results achieved during the third session of the BNC. They reiterated their
determination to strengthen the mutually beneficial co-operation between the
two countries.

H.E. President Thabo Mbeki, however, renewed the commitment of the RSA to
support the government of the DRC in its efforts to establish sustainable
peace, the rule of law and encouraged the Congolese leadership to keep to their
firm commitment of organising free and transparent elections. He congratulated
both the political actors and the Congolese people for the success in the
organisation of the constitutional referendum, the adoption of the new
Constitution and the adoption and promulgation of the electoral law, thus
paving the way for the holding of historic elections scheduled for June
2006.

Moreover, the President of the Republic of South Africa invited the
Congolese Government to keep its promise to restore stability and peace and to
develop the DRC.

At the end of his visit to the DRC, President Thabo Mbeki expressed his
appreciation to his counterpart, H.E. President Joseph Kabila and to the
Congolese people for the warm welcome and the hospitality which he and his
delegation were accorded.

In conclusion, it was decided that the next meeting will be held in the RSA
on a date to be decided upon through diplomatic channels.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
16 March 2006
Source: SAPA