President Paul Kagame says Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will continue to work closely in different aspects, including security, for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and the region.

The Head of State made the remarks on Saturday in Goma, DRC, during a joint press conference with his Congolese counterpart, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, who he thanked for working towards bettering relations between the two countries.

Beginning President Kagame expressed his condolences to DRC, following the recent eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo, which claimed 32 people and damaged infrastructure and property, displacing more than 288, 000 people.

“I am thankful to the President for providing this opportunity for us to be able to be here to express our solidarity and also a sense strong partnership that exists anyway between our two countries but also in this context of giving you Mr President and the people of the DRC, and particularly the people of Goma, our condolences for those who lost their lives during the recent volcanic eruption,” President Kagame said.

The two leaders, prior to addressing a press conference at Goma Serena Hotel, visited different places around Goma, which were affected by the volcanic eruption and subsequent earthquakes.

President Kagame thanked President Tshisekedi for allowing the closeness of the people of the two countries, cementing a relationship that has existed for many centuries but it has been given a ‘new impetus’ and reinforced by the Congolese leader.

“So, that’s really why I’m here. That’s why I’m happy to be here. And I also want to thank President Felix Tshisekedi of this great country for having paid us a visit yesterday,”

“Both yesterday and today, we have had a good opportunity to have broad and productive exchanges that will benefit our two countries,”

“As you saw we signed a number of agreements. I believe this is just the beginning. There are many areas that we are going to come to, in which we can cooperate to build a solid relationship, but also a basis for cooperation between our two countries,” President Kagame said.