RDC’s Félix Tshisekedi heads to Luanda for global peace summit

President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo arrived in Luanda, Angola, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the invitation of Angolan counterpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. The visit coincides with the third edition of the global initiative « A Plea for Peace: Ending Wars and Upholding International Law », a high-level forum uniting heads of state, African Union leaders, UN representatives, religious figures, academics, and youth delegates.

The summit focuses on critical themes such as international peace and security, conflict prevention, reconciliation, and sustainable peacebuilding. Through his participation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) aims to emphasize collective accountability, pushing for tangible, verifiable actions to turn peace from a distant promise into an immediate reality.

Prior to the official sessions, President Tshisekedi and President Lourenço held a bilateral meeting to discuss deepening cooperation between their nations. They also assessed the security situation in eastern DRC, a region grappling with persistent instability.

As of July 1, 2026, the DRC holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council—a role it assumes amid escalating global crises and a growing need to restore faith in the foundational principles of international cooperation and state coexistence.

The Luanda summit, running from July 16 to 17, 2026, is co-organized by the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Angolan government. Its mission: to champion peaceful conflict resolution while highlighting the pivotal roles of women, youth, and sports in fostering enduring peace.