Kinshasa - The United States (US) will provide the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with $17 million in aid to sexually-abused women and help the country train 10 000 policewomen to fight sexual crimes.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham-Clinton made the announcement on Tuesday during talks with DRC's President Joseph Kabila in the eastern city of Goma.
She said the US will go all out to support the development of the DRC and help fight its anti-government rebels and safeguard security and stability in the Great Lakes Region in Africa.
The US encourages the DRC to actively develop relations with Rwanda and other countries in the Great Lakes region, she said, adding that this is the only way to rebuild peace.
Ms Rodham-Clinton welcomed the talks between Kabila and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on 6 August, which were aimed at helping the two countries re-establish diplomatic ties that were severed more than a decade ago.
The DRC was the fourth country on Ms Rodham-Clinton's seven-leg African tour, after visiting South Africa, Kenya and Somalia. She is expected to travel to Angola, Liberia and Cape Verde.
