Arthur De Laborde (in Kinshasa)
modified to
09:15, March 04, 2023
After a whirlwind visit this Friday to Brazzaville, Emmanuel Macron crossed the Congo River in the evening to arrive in Kinshasa in the DRC. He will meet today his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi. This stage, the last of his tour in Central Africa, is undoubtedly the most sensitive on the diplomatic level.
Emmanuel Macron continues his trip to Africa. After Angola and Congo, the president is going to Kinshasa this Saturday. This visit by the French Head of State comes in an explosive regional context because the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have been in conflict for more than a year. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the M23 armed group which has conquered many localities in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fighting between the Congolese army and the rebel movement has intensified in recent weeks.
An “unacceptable regression”
Fights described as “unacceptable regression” by Emmanuel Macron, who insists on the need for “a collective response”, implied regional. And if Paris officially recognizes Kigali’s “support” for the M23, no break in Franco-Rwandan diplomatic relations does not seem to be on the agenda.
The case will of course be at the heart of discussions this Saturday between the French president and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, who hopes at least for a firm condemnation. For the moment, in the largest French-speaking country, part of the population accuses the French president of supporting Rwanda. Demonstrations against his arrival have also taken place in recent days.