Politics

France President Macron meets Paul Kagame, Felix Tshisekedi, over Rwanda, DRC conflict

Published

2 years ago

September 22, 2022

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has met with the Presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekedi respectively, over the lingering conflict between the two neighbouring African countries which has flared in recent months.

At the meeting which took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Macron on invited Kagame to lunch with Tshisekedi, who had accused Rwanda of backing rebel attacks in his country while addressing the Assembly on Tuesday.

The French Presidency which confirmed the meeting of the three leaders, said in a statement that they all “noted their concerns about the resurgence of violence in the east of the DRC.”

The statement said both Kagame and Tshisekedi agreed on the need for the pullout of M23 rebels from the strategic town of Bunagana on the Ugandan border.

“The three leaders want to intensify lasting cooperation to fight impunity and put an end to activities of armed groups in the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR,” the statement said.

In his address to the General Assembly, Tshisekedi had alleged that Rwanda was providing backing and massive support to the M23 rebel group that has been fighting government troops in the Eastern DRC for several years.

“Rwanda’s involvement and responsibility is no longer debatable,” Tshisekedi had said.

But while reacting to Tshisekedi’s accusations in his address on Wednesday, Kagame called for calm, saying “there is an urgent need to find a political need to find and address the root cause of instability in eastern DRC.”

“The blame game does not solve the problems. These challenges are not insurmountable and solutions can be found. This would ultimately be much less costly in terms of both money and human lives,” he added.

Related Topics:Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Felix Tshisekedi France Paul Kagame President Emmanuel Macron Rwanda

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.