Emmanuel Macron returned to the difficult terrain of war diplomacy this Saturday March 4 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the last stage of his African tour, where his peace efforts in the east of the country in the face of the M23 rebellion are disputed.
After a summit on tropical forests in Libreville, an agricultural cooperation agreement in Luanda and a tribute to Free France in Brazzaville, it is time for the great “
cauldron
” of Kinshasa.
The Head of State arrived Friday evening in the capital of the largest French-speaking country in the world and held a press conference on Saturday noon with his counterpart Felix Tshisekedi.
"
It is in misfortune that we recognize our friends, relations between the DRC and France are in good shape
", assured the President of the DRC by way of introduction.
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For his part, Emmanuel Macron hammered that "
the open looting (of the DRC) must stop
".
“No looting, no balkanization, no war.
This is the very meaning of my presence”, he added, before detailing the major projects of France's support in the DRC.
34 million in humanitarian aid
First, the leader indicated that France would be the first state to respond to the EU's initiative to set up a humanitarian air bridge to Goma, a city in eastern DRC affected by the resurgence of M23 rebellion.
France will contribute “
34 million in humanitarian aid, which will be added to the 50
million promised by the European Union
”.
Emmanuel Macron also said that all actors in the conflict, including members of the M23, have "
provided clear support
" for a ceasefire as of "
next Tuesday
".
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The French president then outlined the four main areas of future cooperation between France and the DRC.
“
The Congo cannot be the Congo without greatness
,” he justified, paraphrasing General de Gaulle.
Emmanuel Macron thus announced a “
new partnership on the security and military level
”, recalling that the DRC was already “
the first partner in the field of military training
”.
On the economic level then, the French president insisted on greater collaboration, “
from digital to the mining field, for exploitation at the service of the Congolese
”.
Focus on scientific and cultural fields
Emmanuel Macron also called for not neglecting the scientific and research fields.
He recalled that France was committed to the fight against Ebola and welcomed the collaboration with Africa on the Covid-19 pandemic.
“
But I would like us to go further on scientific and academic exchanges
”, he added, while emphasizing “
biodiversity
”.
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Finally, the President of the Republic announced that he wanted to focus on the cultural field, by providing the DRC with "
tools and networks to help it develop
" in several areas such as video games, comics and even e-sports, which in his eyes are "
means of expression for youth
".
Before concluding on the importance of the French language, stressing that the DRC was "
the first French-speaking country in the world in terms of its demography
".
"
In my eyes, the French language is not just a hyphen but a shared treasure, of which you have become the center of gravity
," he said, addressing President Félix Tshisekedi.