“Rwanda, because it needs to be named, must cease its support for the M23” French position expressed by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou
The Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of development, Francophonie and International partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou arrived in Kinshasa this Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic. of Congo. The Secretary of State of France on her descent from Canon Rapide to Beach Ngobila at the end of her river crossing was welcomed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bruno AUBERT.
Facing the press present, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, held to, to express her joy to tread the ground of the territory of the DRC and to show her compassion following the floods caused by a torrential rain which fell on the city of Kinshasa having made innumerable victims and a hundred deaths.
"I am here to show France's friendship and support for the Congolese people and the authorities of your country. I come to send you a message of solidarity and compassion after the tragic floods which claimed many victims in Kinshasa. I will reiterate all the support of the French people but also of the government and the President of the Republic to the Congolese people and the authorities in the face of the heavy toll of these floods,” said Secretary of State Zacharopoulou.
Referring to the current context of the M23 rebellion and the support of Rwanda long decried by the Congolese authorities, the Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of development, the Francophonie and international partnerships affirmed in clear terms France's support for the DRC in a context of instability in the east of the country and the discussions around the Nairobi and Luanda processes for a satisfactory end.
“I also want to reaffirm that France has always defended and will always defend the integrity and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo. France has always been at your side when this integrity has been threatened. Today we see the return of a tragic situation in eastern DRC. Hundreds of thousands of people are displaced, and even more live in insecurity. It is unbearable and it is unacceptable. There are responsibilities and France has no difficulty pointing them out. The M23 must stop fighting. Disengage and return the occupied territories to the army and to the Congolese authorities. Rwanda, as it must be named, must cease its support for the M23. We must end with the repetition of the history of this region. France condemns the support given by Rwanda to the M23 armed groups. she said.
The Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of development, the Francophonie and international partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou underlined the role of a friend alluding to the contextual reality in the exercise diplomatic relations between France and the DRC in a drive to implement ways and means to find lasting solutions to the problems facing the Congolese nation for its security.
“The role of a friend is not only to denounce, it is also to try to find a solution. That's what we do by talking to everyone. By speaking with the DRC, by speaking with the region. We support the mediation of Angola and that of Kenya. By finally talking about Rwanda because we are not talking about lasting peace without Rwanda. The relationship that we had rebuilt with Kigali, we put it at the service of peace. " hammered Zacharopoulou who also revealed the greatness of the DRC as a country and partner for France with its creativity and its dynamism inspiring the whole world and the will on its part to use its visit to speak to the youth, to the artists and scientists with this desire to accompany them, and she recalled France's support for the DRC for its development to the tune of €200,000,000 per year.
“We can do more and we will. France values this partnership and we want to strengthen it. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron gave me this mission, coming to visit you today, so I am really happy to be in your country and I thank you very much" concluded the Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for development, Francophonie and international partnerships.
It should be recalled that during an exchange between the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the French Republic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bruno AUBERT and Congolese and foreign journalists at the Residence of France in Kinshasa, the French diplomat declared that France would "gradually lay down" its cards on the issue of support for the Rwanda's support for the M23 and the ongoing Luanda and Nairobi diplomatic processes.
It should be noted that in a statement made on Monday, December 19, 2022 by Quai d'Orsay spokesperson, Anne-Claire Legendre, in response to a question from the press on Rwanda's interference in the M23 rebellion , the public opinion heard in a firm way the condemnation of this rebellion movement.
"We condemn Rwanda's support for the M23 group and we demand that the Luanda and Nairobi processes can be fully implemented," said the spokesperson for the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The statements by the Spokesperson of Quai d'Orsay and the Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for development, the Francophonie and international partnerships reveals this new map long awaited by the Congolese people, which comes in an open condemnation of the Rwandan support for M23.
Cassian Tribunal Aungane, Editor
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