In the weekend of March 4-5, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, was in the Democratic Republic of Congo on a state visit, as part of his four-nation African tour.

 

However, for the Congolese government, his trip quickly turned into a nightmare when the French head of state decided to outline some the bitter facts that Kinshasa conveniently spent close to three decades trying to hide.

 

It was clear that DRC President, Felix Tshisekedi, thought Macron’s visit would be a great opportunity to resume his accusation about the alleged Rwandan aggression through the M23 rebels, that are currently occupying swathes of territory in eastern DRC, and demand for sanctions against Rwanda.

 

His plan failed as Macron did not take the bait.

 

During a heated joint press conference in Kinshasa with his Congolese counterpart, Macron emphasized the need for Congolese authorities to look within for solutions to their security challenges, especially in the country’s eastern region, instead of always putting the blame of their challenges on external actors. 

 

“Since 1994, you have never been able to restore the military, security or administrative sovereignty of your country. It's a reality. We must not look for culprits outside,” Macron said.

 

Macron’s message to Tshisekedi was clear: as long as the Congolese leadership continues looking for scapegoats instead of taking matters into their own hands and they solve the security challenges they face, these same challenges will only get worse.

 

To date, eastern DRC is home to more than 130 armed groups. The Congolese army, FARDC, and its commanders work closely with armed groups like the genocidal FDLR militia from Rwanda, Mai Mai militias, and others.

 

Continuously supplying arms to these militia groups only escalates the security crisis.

 

Eastern DRC is in chaos, leading to hundreds of deaths, immense sexual violence, and an influx of thousands of Congolese refugees to other countries.

 

Despite the dire situation, Kinshasa conveniently blames Rwanda for all their failures. But, Macron’s statement squashed the narrative that the M23 rebels are responsible for the crisis, a situation that has been present way before the rebel group took up arms.

 

The French President also emphasized his support for the Luanda roadmap, and Nairobi peace process. Macron urged Tshisekedi to implement the two regional peace initiatives. But little did Macron know that the same Congolese leaders he was talking to have, over the past months, done nothing to implement the resolutions but have instead hired foreign mercenaries to fight the M23 rebels, alongside a coalition of armed groups, effectively escalating the chaos. What’s even more sinister is Kinshasa’s continued collaboration with the FDLR, a UN sanctioned terrorist group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

 

Like a naughty schoolboy, Tshisekedi got an earful from his French counterpart about his failure to deal with and hold accountable the terrorist armed groups, like FDLR, and ADF, from Rwanda and Uganda, respectively.

 

“It is your responsibility to put in place a transitional justice system in your country, so that those who have murdered people are judged. But, they are still there and growing without being held accountable.

 

“How do you expect your country to have peace and trust when in your country, justice is not being served?” Macron asked.

 

 Instead of disarming and sending the FDLR back to Rwanda to face justice for the atrocities they committed, Kinshasa integrated them in their national army.

 

Kigali’s complaint about the collaboration, and the constant request to DRC to deal with them continues to land on deaf ears.

 

After his visit, political commentators lauded Macron’s brutal truth about the DRC’s government failures.

 

These are truths that countries like the US, and others, ignore so they can keep exploiting the poorly governed and disorganised vast African country’s mineral resources.