Minister Dlamini Zuma to Review Progress of Reconstruction and Development Projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thursday, 28 - Friday, 29 July 2005

Tshwane - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will depart for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday, 28 July 2005 to jointly, with her DRC counterpart Raymond Ramazani Baya review the progress of reconstruction and development projects in the DRC as mandated by Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Joseph Kabila.

President Thabo Mbeki and DRC President Joseph Kabila agreed in April 2005 to establish a mechanism led by the two foreign ministers to assess progress of co-operation projects between South Africa and the DRC on a quarterly basis

In this regard, the South African departments of Foreign Affairs, Public Service and Administration, Defence, the Independent Electoral Commission, and the South African Police Service are co-operating with the DRC government in terms of election management and preparation; population register; police training; institutional capacity-building; public service reform, registration of civil servants, and integration of armed forces.

In addition, the South African National Defence Force has deployed 1216 peacekeeping personnel to the DRC, as part of MONUC, the UN Observer Mission for Peace in the Congo.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Friday, 29 July 2005 ahead of the scheduled State Visits by President Mbeki to Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

27 July 2005