Congo Leader Urges Macron To Back Sanctions Against Rwanda M23 Rebels

The Associated Press reports that in Kinshasa, Congo, On Saturday, Congo’s president, Felix Tshisekedi, urged France’s visiting leader, Emmanuel Macron, to press for international sanctions against Rwanda for its alleged military support of the M23 rebellion.

Macron said he would only consider such a move once multiple ongoing peace negotiations were completed. The French, on the other hand, would stay “true to its role as an unwavering ally of (Congo) to defend its integrity and sovereignty,” he said.

For decades, armed groups have fought for control of Eastern Congo to profit from the region’s abundant mineral resources, plunging the region into chaos. Congo has recently blamed Rwanda for aiding M23 rebels, who have taken over significant portions of the country’s east.

Rwanda has categorically rejected this claim.

Talks for a ceasefire have occurred in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and the Angolan capital of Luanda. There has been a call for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of the M23 rebels from the territory they currently control in eastern Congo from regional leaders.

The French president declared Saturday that Congo “must not be spoils of war.”

“This is the very meaning of my presence today, to tell everyone that there cannot be a double standard between the tragedy that played out in Ukraine on European territory and that played out on African soil,” Macron said.

Tshisekedi urged his French counterpart to impose sanctions on Rwanda, claiming he was “still doubtful about the good faith of those who attacked us.”

As Tshisekedi put it, Rwanda is guilty of “systematic plundering,” There was “no reason to justify this aggression, except for economic reasons, which were specific to Rwanda, the instigator of this aggression.”

At least a dozen citizen groups called for demonstrations before Macron’s arrival late on Friday.

Justice in Action Movement member Emmanuel Mabunguta said French President Emmanuel Macron was not welcome in Congo because he supported Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Mabunguta has said that the French president’s silence in response to the Congolese people’s calls for sanctions against Rwanda reveals a great deal about his true intentions. Macron should be vocal about his disapproval of Rwanda’s support for the M23.

Macron’s trip to Africa included stops in Gabon, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo, the latter of which was his final destination. On Friday in Brazzaville, Macron stated his country’s commitment to combating climate change and bolstering forest conservation efforts.

SOURCE – (AP)