On Tuesday 20, France voiced its alarm regarding the persistent conflicts in Eastern Congo, notably near Goma and Sake.

In its communication, France appealed to the M23 to halt hostilities and relinquish control of territories in accordance with the Luanda agreements, designed to mediate the crisis in Eastern Congo.

The announcement further urged all backers of M23 to discontinue their support and requested the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government to end its collaboration with the FDLR, a group established by individuals implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Yolande Makolo asserted that France has the deepest understanding of the issues in eastern Congo.

“No one knows more about the root causes and history of the conflict in eastern DRC than France. Additionally, the current head of UN Peacekeeping Operations is also very conversant with this history, as well as what is going on in eastern DRC, so there should be no confusion. If the real issues at the origin of the ongoing conflict were addressed, the problem would not exist,” she posted on X.

The head of UN Peacekeeping Operations mentioned by Makolo is Jean-Pierre Lacroix who assumed his role on April 1, 2017, succeeding Hervé Ladsous.

Lacroix is deeply familiar with the region’s history, having contributed to the establishment of "Opération Turquoise," a mission that supported the leaders of the Habyarimana government and soldiers who fled to Congo’s forests after killing Tutsis in Rwanda.

Lacroix also served as an Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of France, Edouard Balladur.

Those who went into exile with the complicity of Operation Turquoise are the ones who have become members of FDLR.

Currently, the FDLR is an acknowledged component of the Congolese Military (FARDC), and its alliance with the DRC government has been validated by the UN and entities such as Human Rights Watch.

However, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has maintained its silence, not addressing the matter publicly.

Makolo said that if the real issues at the origin of the ongoing conflict were addressed, the problem would not exist.

The Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has emphasized that France is uniquely knowledgeable about the origins of insecurity in Eastern Congo.