During a joint press conference, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the conflict in the East of the DRC. This meeting marks a significant turning point in Franco-Congolese relations, with a firmer stance from France against armed groups operating in the region, notably the M23.
"All armed groups, I mean all, must be progressively disarmed and demobilized; Rwanda - I reiterated to President Kagame in a recent exchange - must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from Congolese territory. I reiterated this to him, and I will remind him in the coming days," declared President Macron.
France's support praised by the DRC
President Félix Tshisekedi expressed his deep gratitude to France for its commitment alongside the Congolese people, highlighting the importance of this international support to restore peace in the East of the DRC, ravaged by armed conflicts and violence for decades. "We can count on France to be by our side to find this peace," he declared. He sees in this support a glimmer of hope to end this unjust war, recognizing the crucial role of France in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic initiatives. France's support is perceived as a strong signal from the international community, reinforcing hopes for peace and stability in this devastated region.
Condemnation of Armed Groups and Exhortation to Rwanda
President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned the actions of armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly the M23 offensive, and called for their immediate withdrawal from occupied territories. He urged Rwanda to cease all support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. Macron also emphasized the need to gradually disarm and demobilize all armed groups to restore peace and stability, calling for international support to ensure a secure transition. His statement aims to promote a diplomatic solution and regional cooperation to end hostilities.
Clear Position of France
This clear and public stance from the French presidency is a first. Until now, accusations had been made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but this is the first time such an explicit message has come from the Élysée. Emmanuel Macron insisted that no militia has a place in the North Kivu region and mentioned a principle agreement with Félix Tshisekedi to disarm the FDLR.
Mineral Traceability
President Emmanuel Macron addressed another crucial point regarding the traceability of minerals from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region rich in resources such as cobalt and coltan. He proposed the establishment of a system similar to the Kimberley Process, which regulates the diamond trade to prevent cross-border trafficking of these minerals. This initiative aims to combat conflicts and instability in the region by ensuring better transparency and traceability of mineral supply chains, thereby reducing the financing of armed groups and human rights abuses.
Towards Regional Mediation
France actively supports regional mediation through the Luanda process despite the challenges faced, notably the threat of the M23 rebel movement on the city of Goma and the displacement of a million people. This renewed commitment, in partnership with the DRC, aims to transform the situation by focusing on regional cooperation, mediation, and development. Together, these efforts seek to promote stability and a better future for the Great Lakes region.
