The French President, Emmanuel Macron, reserved himself, Saturday March 4 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to evoke sanctions against the M23 rebellion, active in the East of the DRC, being given that this movement was supposed to respect a ceasefire provided for in a de-escalation plan as of Tuesday, March 7.
During a joint press conference with his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, Macron assured that he had had discussions with the Angolan Presidents Joao Lourenço and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, without forgetting Tshisekedi, and that all would have « provided clear support » for this cease fire.
“What we expect from Rwanda and the others (actors) is to commit and respect the appointments that they give themselves under the supervision of the mediators and if they do not respect, then yes, it there may be sanctions, I say it very clearly”, declared the French head of state.
According to the Congolese army, the M23 violated the ceasefire agreed last weekend by Angola, a country which mediates at the request of the African Union (AU). The rebels reportedly attacked several positions of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in the province of North Kivu (East).
But the M23 denies these accusations, while claiming to have observed an “effective ceasefire” and requested a “direct” dialogue with Kinshasa.
This ceasefire is not the first that has been aborted. But this time, he also engages France which, through its president, has given assurances to the Congolese on a lull.
Emmanuel Macron records a first “failure” within the framework of the new type of partnership that he wants to establish in relations between France and the African continent, which he presented on February 27. Will it act or will it not act after the supposed stubbornness of the M23 supported, according to Kinshasa, by Rwanda.
For Africans who question relations between France and the continent, and who even opposed his last 72-hour mini-tour which took him to Gabon, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), this failure is one more indication that African countries can no longer count on the sincerity of France.
Several African nationals are tired of the paternalistic spirit that animates France, setting itself up as a moralizer, a giver of lessons, while the continent is becoming more and more aware that its hidden actions in Africa are not Catholic.
Macron asked Tshisekedi to be « intractable » with the neighbors who come to plunder the wealth of the DRC. What will he say then of the French multinationals which plunder the resources of the African basement?
By OMA Newsletter N° 1080 of 08/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, reserved himself, Saturday March 4 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to evoke sanctions against the M23 rebellion, active in the East of the DRC, being given that this movement was supposed to respect a ceasefire provided for in a de-escalation plan as of Tuesday, March 7.
During a joint press conference with his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, Macron assured that he had had discussions with the Angolan Presidents Joao Lourenço and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, without forgetting Tshisekedi, and that all would have « provided clear support » for this cease fire.
“What we expect from Rwanda and the others (actors) is to commit and respect the appointments that they give themselves under the supervision of the mediators and if they do not respect, then yes, it there may be sanctions, I say it very clearly”, declared the French head of state.
According to the Congolese army, the M23 violated the ceasefire agreed last weekend by Angola, a country which mediates at the request of the African Union (AU). The rebels reportedly attacked several positions of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in the province of North Kivu (East).
But the M23 denies these accusations, while claiming to have observed an “effective ceasefire” and requested a “direct” dialogue with Kinshasa.
This ceasefire is not the first that has been aborted. But this time, he also engages France which, through its president, has given assurances to the Congolese on a lull.
Emmanuel Macron records a first “failure” within the framework of the new type of partnership that he wants to establish in relations between France and the African continent, which he presented on February 27. Will it act or will it not act after the supposed stubbornness of the M23 supported, according to Kinshasa, by Rwanda.
For Africans who question relations between France and the continent, and who even opposed his last 72-hour mini-tour which took him to Gabon, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), this failure is one more indication that African countries can no longer count on the sincerity of France.
Several African nationals are tired of the paternalistic spirit that animates France, setting itself up as a moralizer, a giver of lessons, while the continent is becoming more and more aware that its hidden actions in Africa are not Catholic.
Macron asked Tshisekedi to be « intractable » with the neighbors who come to plunder the wealth of the DRC. What will he say then of the French multinationals which plunder the resources of the African basement?
By OMA Newsletter N° 1080 of 08/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
