Belgium has announced that it is set to train at least 7,000 Congolese soldiers as part of the renewed and warm bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
On Tuesday, Belgian ambassador to Kinshasa, Roxane de Bildering made the announcement after convening with DR Congo’s Minister of Defence Jean-Pierre Bemba in the Congolese capital.
“You know that Belgium has resumed its military cooperation partnership with the DRC, this is a very important aspect but also the additional financing which comes from the European Union with the European payroll facility, so that is a partnership important” declared the Belgian diplomat.
De Bildering said that the scheduling of the training will be spread over several years but did not reveal the exact dates when the program would kickstart.
Belgium also intended to equip the soldiers with military necessities and construction of new buildings for them to be able to defend the country properly.
Meanwhile, De Bildering and Bemba also discussed the ongoing security concerns in the eastern DR Congo and the debate over the withdrawal of the MONUSCO forces.
