By John Ikani
In a bid to tackle the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) east, President Felix Tshisekedi has urged visiting French President Emmanuel Macron to impose international sanctions against neighbouring Rwanda.
The DRC has accused Rwanda of providing military support to the M23 rebellion, a claim Kigali denies.
Macron stated that he would wait for the conclusion of several ongoing peace negotiations before considering sanctions, but promised that France would remain a loyal ally of the DRC, committed to protecting its integrity and sovereignty.
For years, the eastern region of the DRC has been plagued by violence, with armed groups seeking to control its vast mineral resources.
The M23 rebels recently took control of significant areas in the east, further destabilizing the region.
The international community has called for an end to the violence and the withdrawal of M23 from the territories they have captured.
To this end, peace negotiations have been held in Nairobi, Kenya and Angola’s capital, Luanda.
Speaking during his visit, Macron stressed that the “DRC should not be seen as a spoils of war, and that there should be no double standards between the situation in Ukraine and the conflict on African soil.”
He stated that it was his duty “to make it clear that France would stand with the DRC and defend its sovereignty.”
Nonetheless, President Tshisekedi insisted Macron to take action against Rwanda and emphasized that the DRC should not be a victim of aggression.
He accused Rwanda of “systematic plundering” and claimed that the country had no reason to justify its aggression against the DRC, except for economic reasons specific to Rwanda.
Both presidents emphasized the importance of bringing lasting peace to the region and finding a sustainable solution to the ongoing conflict.
