Kinshasa hosts the first strategic defense dialogue between the DRC and France
On the occasion of the official visit of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Félix Tshisekedi, to Paris last spring, the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and his Congolese counterpart decided to launch a strategic defense dialogue between France and the DRC. The first edition was organized in Kinshasa on November 27, 2024. This dialogue aims to consolidate ties between the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and their French counterparts, by establishing a framework for in-depth exchange to strengthen cooperation in security and defense. During this meeting, in which around thirty senior officers took part, three main priorities to guide this cooperation were identified: 1. Share common strategic analyses between the two countries 2. Assess the current state of military cooperation in order to better meet the specific needs of the FARDC 3. Lay the foundations for the updating of the Franco-Congolese defense agreement signed in 1974. This strategic d