Kabila in Angola

DRC President Joseph Kabila arrived in Luanda, Angola on Thursday for a two-day official visit, Angolan television reported. In a welcome address, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said he hoped Kabila’s visit would “contribute significantly to the development of our traditional relations and cooperation”. “We will greatly contribute to ensure frank discussions regarding problems affecting both countries, which we hope will in turn contribute to bilateral relations,” Dos Santos said. Kabila is set to attend an extraordinary parliamentary session in his honour on Friday.

Regional analysts last week pointed out a “shift” of cooperation, particularly politically, from the choice of the younger Kabila’s new cabinet. They said the line-up comprised mostly people who had “very close links” to the Zimbabwean authorities. Angola and Zimbabwe are both allies of the DRC in the war against Rwanda and Uganda who are fighting alongside the DRC rebels. Analysts say that Kabila’s new cabinet is a departure from his late father’s line-up which they say had a number of people who were very friendly to Angola.