Democratic Republic of Congo wants to warm up relations with Morocco

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is eager to warm up its relations with Morocco, said minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi.

The official of the DRC told MAP's bureau in Dakar that his country was "ready to improve and warm up its relations with Rabat" and considers that Morocco had received on its territory the late Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko "out of African feelings."

"There is no prejudice on the part of the DRC because our fallen dictator sought asylum and was buried there (in Morocco)... We do not hold any grudge against Morocco," the DRC official said adding, "on the contrary, Morocco is a brotherly country which gave evidence of African feelings."

When the late Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko had been overthrown, he took refuge in Morocco where he spent few months before he passed away. He is buried in Rabat.

Ndombasi stated further that the DRC does not consider this situation as an obstacle to warming up the relations with Morocco. He recalled that these relations are centuries-old and date back to the time of Sheikh Ahmed Tidjani who is buried in Morocco and who has followers in the Congo republic and elsewhere throughout Africa.

"Should we consider only this (Tidjania) aspect, Morocco is for us a land of asylum," the DRC official said asserting that relations between Rabat and Kinshasa are "very brotherly and only require to be warmed up."