ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 5, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Augustine Mataa Ponyo, met on Monday, 4 April 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
They met on the margins of the 9th Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the Economic Commission of Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The AU Commission Chairperson and the Congolese Prime Minister discussed the socio-economic and political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially the progress made, as well as the challenges they currently face.
The Prime Minister informed the Chairperson of the significant progress that the DRC is making, notably the 11% increase in the 2014 Human Development Index. He said this was a remarkable gain; this particular experience of the DRC was shared with other countries during the gathering.
Politically, the PM informed the Chairperson that the DRC is currently having discussions around a national dialogue that would allow stakeholders to put into perspective the ongoing socio-economic developments and a consensually agreed electoral process. He thanked the Chairperson for appointing former Prime Minister Edme Kodjo to assist in facilitating dialogue with the Congolese stakeholders.
The AU Commission Chairperson welcomed the Prime Minister for accepting the invitation to share his country’s experience with other African countries. She congratulated President Joseph Kabila and the Government for their commitment in improving on the lives of the people of the DRC, encouraging them to stay the course. Dr. Dlamini Zuma pledged the sustained support of the African Union. She noted that growth and progress in any country on the continent is success for the rest of the continent.
