While in Italy there is always discussion of domestic politics and the usual national trifles, Emmanuel Macron yesterday met the president of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi. During the meeting, an Eliseo press release reads, the two heads of state shared the will to establish a real strategic partnership between the two countries to face common challenges such as security, education and Francophony, the environmental protection, health. It was therefore signed of the second contract for the reduction and development of debt between France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for an amount of 65 million, which will cover the sectors of education and vocational training, financial and administrative governance and health.
France will dedicate 23 million euros bilaterally, mainly to teacher training. Regarding health, this meeting was an opportunity to sign a joint road map to combat the Ebola epidemic, which will be based on three pillars: an emergency humanitarian response; a scientific partnership between French research actors and the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, as well as development actions aimed at strengthening health systems in the medium and long term.
Finally, the presidents discussed the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. France has always supported the Democratic Republic of the Congo to guarantee respect for its territorial integrity. The President of the Republic assured his counterpart of France's support in the fight against armed groups and in its efforts in the field of regional cooperation.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was devastated by the conflict near its eastern border, after numerous militias evolved from the two Congo wars (1996-1997 and 1998-2003).
Macron said that the French aid will take on a "military dimension" and will involve the contribution of intelligence, but did not provide details.
A Ugandan armed group of Islamist origins, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), has targeted the Beni region, killing hundreds of civilians over the past five years. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, but there is no clear evidence of any link between the two groups.
Macron therefore invited the regional countries to "engage with President Tshisekedi in this very important struggle".
Tshisekedi replied that he wanted to see "lto France much more present in Africa. When a friend is in trouble, the other helps him", he added.
Restart G5
Meanwhile, Macron is committed to making decisions "in the coming weeks" on how France can help fight jihadist violence in the Sahel.
The French leader said that progress has been made "on the security situation" and that decisions will be announced on the renewal of the G5 regional cooperation force in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Following talks with his counterparts from Chad, Niger and Mali - Idriss Deby, Mahamadou Issoufou and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita - Macron stated that France "is confirming and consolidating its commitment" for its military role in the operation Barkhane, launched in the 2014 and to which Paris contributed 4.500 troops.
The G5 framework, created to combat jihadist terrorism in the fragile region between the Sahara and the Atlantic, includes troops from Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso which are supported by the former French colonial power.
But, hampered by insufficient funds, training and equipment, the force has only now completed an 4.000 troop complement, causing analysts to question its ability to fulfill its role.
Macron said further military resources will be available early next year.
Among the arguments that Macron discussed with his Sahel counterparts was the northeastern flashpoint of Kidal's Mali, a city held by the rebels mainly governed by the Tuareg separatists after a rebellion of the 2012 which, according to him, must have been visibly under state control.
The weak state presence in the area has allowed jihadist groups, including a local branch of the Islamic State group, to establish a foothold in a vast and arid domain that has become a center for trafficking in people and weapons.