France’s foreign minister is traveling to Rwanda after meetings in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help mediate the escalating conflict in the region. The visit follows the capture of Goma by M23 rebels and Rwandan troops, the latest and most significant escalation in the decades-long conflict.
Jean-Noel Barrot is undertaking the mission on behalf of France, which is leading efforts on the U.N. Security Council to address the crisis. Barrot’s visit comes after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with both Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Barrot met with Tshisekedi earlier and is expected to meet with Kagame soon.
“The goal is to find a diplomatic solution to this conflict, which must end immediately,” said French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine.
The conflict has sparked protests in the DRC, with demonstrators storming foreign embassies, including the French mission in Kinshasa, accusing France of foreign interference. France, which has sought to improve relations with Rwanda in recent years, has interests in Rwanda’s involvement in stabilizing Mozambique, where French energy company Total operates a large gas project.
Ahead of the visit, France condemned Rwanda’s role in the escalation, demanding the M23 rebels withdraw from territories they control and that Rwandan forces leave DRC. “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC are non-negotiable,” Lemoine stated.
Rwanda, on the other hand, claims it is acting in self-defense, accusing the DRC of cooperating with ethnic Hutu-led militias threatening Rwanda’s security. The DRC, however, accuses Rwanda of using the M23 group to plunder valuable minerals from Congolese territory.
