The French President pledged in Kinshasa to play a central role in the humanitarian airlift to Goma announced by the EU on Saturday morning.
By Hugues Maillot
Published 4/3/2023 at 1:00 PM, updated 4/3/2023 at 1:04 PM
Emmanuel Macron returned to the difficult terrain of war diplomacy this Saturday, March 4, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the final leg of his African trip, where his peace efforts in the east of the country are contested in the face of the M23 rebellion. After a summit on tropical forests in Libreville, an agricultural cooperation agreement in Luanda and a tribute to free France in Brazzaville, it’s time for the great cauldron of Kinshasa.
The head of state arrived in the capital of the largest French-speaking country in the world on Friday evening and held a press conference with his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi on Saturday noon. “It’s unfortunate that you recognize your friends, relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and France are in good condition,” said the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by way of introduction.
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For his part, Emmanuel Macron hammered that “outdoor looting (of the DRC) must stop”. “No looting, no balkanization, no war. That is the real purpose of my presence,” he added, before explaining the main projects of French support in the DRC.
34 million in humanitarian assistance
First, the Chair indicated that France would be the first country to respond to the EU’s initiative to set up a humanitarian air bridge to Goma, a city in eastern DRC hit by the resurgence of the M23 rebellion . France will contribute “34 million in humanitarian aid, on top of the 50 million promised by the European Union”. Emmanuel Macron also said that all actors in the conflict, including members of the M23, had given “clear support” for a ceasefire from “next Tuesday”.
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The French President then outlined the four main areas of future cooperation between France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “The Congo cannot be the Congo without greatness,” he justified, paraphrasing General de Gaulle. Emmanuel Macron therefore announced a “new partnership at security and military level” and recalled that the DRC was already “the first partner in the field of military training”.
At the economic level, the French President then insisted on greater cooperation, “from digitization to mining, for exploitation at the service of the Congolese”.
Focus on scientific and cultural areas
Emmanuel Macron also called for science and research not to be neglected. He recalled France’s commitment to the fight against Ebola and welcomed cooperation with Africa on the Covid-19 pandemic. “But I would like us to continue to promote scientific and academic exchange,” he added, emphasizing “biodiversity”.
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Finally, the President of the Republic announced that he wanted to focus on the cultural field, providing the DRC with “tools and networks to support its development” in several areas such as video games, comics and even e-sports, which in his eyes are “means of expression of youth”.
Before going into the importance of the French language, stress that the Democratic Republic of the Congo was “the first French-speaking country in the world in terms of its demographics.” “In my eyes, the French language is not just a hyphen, but a common treasure of which you have become the focus,” he told President Félix Tshisekedi.