Kinshasa, November 5th, 2008

Mr. President-Elect,

It is with immense pleasure that I send you the heartfelt congratulations of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following your historic election to the presidency of the United States of America.

Your victory reaffirms the best of American ideals, which most of the world values so much and aspires to replicate. It gives voice to the American people's yearning for change, a new direction, and a renewed franchise, and hope to people such as ours who' aspire for a new dawn of peace, unity, and progress.

I therefore look forward to working with you to resolve the issues facing the global world, and restore peace and stability to the DRC, and to the Great Lakes region as a whole.

I wish you all the best and continued success.

Sincerely,

Joseph KABILA KABANGE