During Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi's visit to Cairo, his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reaffirmed Egypt's support for the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.
"I expressed Egypt's solidarity with the DRC in the face of the humanitarian crisis in the east of the country, as well as our willingness to provide all necessary medical, food and humanitarian aid," said el-Sisi at a joint press conference following the talks.
For his part, Félix Tshisekedi was keen to acknowledge Cairo's commitment: "I expressed to His Excellency President el-Sissi the gratitude of the Congolese people for the support provided by Egypt in the fight against the Ebola epidemic. This act of solidarity reflects the depth of the bonds of friendship and the active cooperation between African brothers."
A deadly epidemic that is difficult to contain.
On the ground, the situation remains worrying. More than one hundred people have lost their lives in less than a month since the outbreak was declared in eastern Congo on May 15, an outbreak caused by a particularly severe form of the virus and detected several weeks late.
Authorities face numerous obstacles: attacks on healthcare workers by angry residents, skepticism from some of the local population, and armed conflicts in the hardest-hit areas. All of these factors seriously undermine efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
Beyond the health crisis, the two heads of state presided over a signing ceremony for a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding, demonstrating the two countries' commitment to strengthening their ties. Areas covered include political and diplomatic consultations, the creation of a cardiovascular surgery pavilion at the La Renaissance Hospital Center in Kinshasa, urban development and city management, and the strengthening of bilateral investment relations.
