Highlights: Russia announces having approved a draft military cooperation agreement with the DRC. The agreement provides for the organization of joint exercises, visits by warships and combat aircraft, and military training. The Congolese Minister of Defense visited Moscow a little two years ago, in August 2022. Speculations about a possible recourse to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, to overcome insecurity persisting in eastern DRC, were denied by President Félix Tshisekedi a few months later. The DRC has also resumed its military cooperation with the United States by signing an agreement in 2020 which includes, among other things, the training of Congo officers in the U.S.

A draft military cooperation agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo was approved this week by Moscow. An announcement made on the official website of the Russian government on Tuesday, but…

Russia announces having approved a draft military cooperation agreement with the DRC

A draft military cooperation agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo was approved this week by Moscow.

An announcement made on the official website of the Russian government on Tuesday, but few details have yet filtered on the form that this cooperation would take.

Congolese army soldiers move towards the front line of fighting with the Allied Democratic Forces in eastern DRC.

(Illustrative image).

By: RFI Follow

The announcement of this project was made on Tuesday March 5 on the legal information website of the

Russian

Federation .

The press release indicates that “

the Russian government approved the draft military cooperation agreement with the DRC, presented by the Russian Defense Ministry in coordination with the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He specifies in particular that the agreement provides for the organization of joint exercises, visits by warships and combat aircraft, and military training as well as other formats of cooperation.

On the Congolese side, no more information at the moment.

Use of the Russian Wagner group?

As a reminder, the Congolese Minister of Defense visited Moscow a little two years ago, in August 2022, which had sparked speculation about a possible recourse to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, to overcome insecurity persisting in eastern

Democratic Republic of Congo

Speculations denied by President

Félix Tshisekedi

a few months later.

Questioned on the subject, he declared to the press: “

I know it is fashionable now, but no, we do not need to use mercenaries

”, contrary to what several other countries have done. Africans.

Private military companies

For the past year, two private military companies have been operating alongside the Congolese army in the east of the country.

One led by a Frenchman, the other by a Romanian citizen: they are officially responsible for instructing and

supporting the Congolese army

Asked about their presence a few months ago, President Tshisekedi clarified that they are coaches and not mercenaries.

The DRC has also resumed its military cooperation with the United States by signing an agreement in 2020 which includes, among other things, the training of Congolese officers in the United States.

The American ambassador at the time specified that through this agreement, Washington was providing military support to eradicate armed groups in eastern DRC.

Read alsoDRC: the use of more sophisticated weapons and air assets by the M23 armed group and Rwanda is worrying

Russia announces having approved a draft military cooperation agreement with the DRC

Russia announces having approved a draft military cooperation agreement with the DRC

Use of the Russian Wagner group?

Private military companies

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest