Pretoria, 18 September 2025 — President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo arrived in Pretoria on Thursday for a brief working visit with his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa. The presidential convoy proceeded from a military airport to the Union Buildings for a one-on-one meeting and a working lunch.
Accompanying President Tshisekedi were senior cabinet members including Vice Prime Minister in charge of Defence Guy Kabongo, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, and Minister of Finance Doudou Fwamba — a delegation that signals discussions intended to cover security, diplomacy and economic cooperation.
Although scheduled for only a few hours, this working visit is strategically timed. Kinshasa and Pretoria have a history of institutional cooperation and share vested interests in regional stability, trade, and continental initiatives. The presence of defence and finance ministers suggests talks were aimed at immediate security coordination and laying groundwork for trade and investment steps.
What to watch next
Official communiqués or MOUs — Look for signed agreements or joint statements that move beyond general commitments. Follow-up mechanisms — which agencies or task forces will carry implementation; timelines and budget pledges will determine real impact. Security cooperation details — any specific peacekeeping, intelligence-sharing, or logistical support pledged for eastern DRC. Investment pipelines — announcements of concrete projects, public-private partnerships, or trade facilitation measures.
President Tshisekedi’s trip to Pretoria is symbolically important and strategically sensible: it reinforces Kinshasa’s ties with a regional heavyweight and opens channels for security cooperation and economic ties. The success of the visit will be judged not by protocol and photos at the Union Buildings, but by measurable follow-through — signed agreements, allocated budgets, and concrete project timelines that benefit citizens on the ground.
