This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
France to Support DR Congo in Fight Against Armed Groups ¶
Published on November 12, 2019
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued by conflict near its eastern border, a legacy of the two Congo wars that ravaged the country from 1996 to 1997 and 1998 to 2003.
French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged French support to the Democratic Republic of Congo in its fight against armed groups, including those linked to the Islamic State. In a meeting with President Tshisekedi in Paris, Macron stated, "France is fully engaged at the side of DRC to fight armed groups which are destabilising the country".
Macron's support will take on a "military dimension" and involve "intelligence" but he did not provide further details. The region of Beni has been particularly affected, with hundreds of civilians killed by the Islamist-rooted Ugandan armed group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), over the last five years.
While the Islamic State has claimed some of the attacks, there is no clear proof of any link between the two groups. Macron also called on regional countries to "engage themselves with President Tshisekedi in this very important fight".
President Tshisekedi expressed his desire for increased French presence in Africa, stating, "When a friend is in difficulty, one helps."
