French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and M23 rebels from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where fighting has persisted since 2021. Speaking at the conclusion of a summit of French-speaking nations in Paris on Saturday, Macron emphasized the need to dismantle all armed groups in the resource-rich yet conflict-ridden region.
Macron advocated for the resumption of a political process to ensure the full restoration of the DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. His remarks came a day after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his delegation left the summit in protest, upset that Macron had not mentioned the DRC in his opening speech, despite addressing other global crises.
A DRC official expressed frustration that Macron seemed to avoid criticising Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is accused of supporting the M23, a Tutsi-dominated rebel group. Macron also called for the dismantling of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel group based in the DRC led by former Hutu officials responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Macron noted that any political solution in the region must include all relevant parties, including the M23. He added that a planned trilateral meeting between the leaders of France, Rwanda, and the DRC did not materialise due to a lack of interest from the African nations. France instead held separate bilateral talks with both sides, while Angola continues to mediate peace efforts.
Macron urged both Rwanda and the DRC to intensify their efforts towards peace.