U.S. Africa Command’s Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Director of Intelligence, Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jan. 27-29. This visit supports the U.S.-DRC Privileged Partnership for Peace and Prosperity and follows the relaunch of security cooperation with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two nations in October 2020.
During their visit, Ambassador Young and Rear Admiral Berg with U.S. Ambassador Mike Hammer are scheduled to meet with President Felix Tshisekedi; Minister of Defense, Mr. Aime Ngoy Mukena; and with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Gen. Célestin Mbala Munsense. They also plan to meet Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and with civil society representatives and human rights advocates.
The visit will focus on professionalizing and strengthening the Congolese military as well President Tshisekedi’s anti-corruption reform agenda. The visitors will also discuss efforts to improve civil-military relations and respect for human rights, emphasizing the important role international partners and civil society organizations play in addressing security challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For additional information about this visit, contact the U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Public Affairs Section at Kinshasapress@state.gov.
