Emmanuel Macron in Kinshasa: the DRC "must not be the spoils of war"

French President Emmanuel Macron and his counterpart Félix Tshisekedi, March 4 in Kinshasa.

AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In Kinshasa, the final stop on the French president's African tour, Emmanuel Macron met his counterpart Félix Tshisekedi.

The two heads of state held a press conference largely devoted to the crisis in the east of the country.

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With our special correspondent in Kinshasa,

During his speech, but also when responding to journalists, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi repeatedly recalled " 

" of which his country is the victim.

On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron had more difficulty in clearly stating his words on the subject.

It took several reminders for us to see him condemn Rwanda's support for the M23.

Everyone must " 

", he said.

Then further: “

, ”said Emmanuel Macron again.

Sanctions ?

The president above all defended the regional peace plan with the new timetable for ending the crisis, validated at the African Union summit in mid-February.

Then Emmanuel Macron mentioned the new date of the ceasefire of March 7 at noon.

If this plan fails, the Head of State warned that sanctions could then be taken against those who have responsibilities.

Finally, France announced a contribution of 37 million euros to a humanitarian air bridge to be set up by the European Union with the city of Goma.

As for the electoral process, since the DRC must vote at the end of the year, it was a question from the journalists that gave rise to a "ping-pong" between the two presidents.

A colleague recalled the words of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs during the publication of the results of the last presidential election in 2018 in the DRC, who then mentioned an "

".

The electoral calendar affected?

Words that shocked Congolese President Tshisekedi.

But Emmanuel Macron made a point of recalling that there was no double standard in the treatment of irregularities whether in the elections, in France, in the United States and in the DRC.

Finally, on this subject, President Félix Tshisekedi has several times hinted that the crisis in the East could have an impact on the electoral calendar.

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• ground floor

• France

• Rwanda

• Emmanuel Macron

• Felix Tshisekedi

• Paul Kagame