DR Congo Conflict: Museveni to Invite Macron for Talks

President Museveni has met the outgoing Ambassador of France to Uganda, H.E Jules-Armand Aniambossou, at State House Entebbe.

Aniambossou informed the President about his three-year diplomatic tour of duty to Uganda that has come to an end and lauded the cordial relations that exist between Uganda and France.

“For the time I have spent here, I discovered Uganda is a very beautiful country. I consider myself somehow like Ugandan and will leave the country as an ambassador. We have done well on our bilateral relations,” he said.

Aniambossou is now headed to represent France in Ghana in West Africa.

“I wish H.E the Ambassador good luck as he takes on his new assignments,” Museveni said in return.

Amb Aniambossou also briefed the president on various issues the French government is involved in, including efforts to bring lasting peace to Eastern DRC.

“I welcome their efforts. Europe has nothing to lose if they work well with Africa,” Museveni said.

According to a statement released by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU), Museveni said he plans to invite his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to discuss ways of resolving the intermittent conflicts in eastern DR Congo.

“I’m going to write to H.E Macron and invite him here to discuss African and world issues, including Europe,” he said.

Aniambossou updated President Museveni about diplomatic efforts by Paris to bring peace in eastern Congo, which the French leader has separately discussed with Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi.

The ambassador further told Museveni that lasting peace in DR Congo cannot be achieved without the involvement of Uganda which has a wealth of experience in solving conflicts in the region.

“We know that we cannot find a sustainable solution without Uganda. We also need to get your advice about the Nairobi process,” he added, referring to an East African Community effort to end the conflict in Congo.

Museveni said he would discuss the matter with his French counterpart whom he expects to visit Uganda next January.

“I would like really to sit down with Mr Macron and we talk strategically. Europe has nothing to lose if they work well with Africa,” he said.

He added: “The East African approach is a good one because it brings in more eyes, brings more transparency and isolates the trouble makers. The western countries should support this. When President Macron comes here, we shall discuss further.”