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Sarkozy outlines Congo peace plan Sarkozy outlines Congo peace plan
(about 3 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged a "new momentum" on co-operation in Africa's troubled Great Lakes region, in a speech to Congolese MPs. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has suggested using the mineral wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo to help bring peace to central Africa.
Addressing parliament in Kinshasa, he also praised Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila's joint operation with Rwanda against rebels. Addressing parliament in Kinshasa, he also praised Congolese President Joseph Kabila's joint operation with Rwanda against rebels earlier this year.
The region has been plagued by rival militias for more than a decade.The region has been plagued by rival militias for more than a decade.
During his two-day African tour, Mr Sarkozy will also visit the Republic of Congo and Niger, ex-French colonies. He said the region's people could become rich by working together or continue to fight and remain poor.
He is joined by French ministers and business executives seeking contracts in various sectors, including mining, telecommunications and infrastructure. French nuclear giant Areva's chief executive has taken advantage of the visit to sign a deal to exploit uranium in DR Congo.
Addressing the national assembly in the first visit by a French president to the former Belgian colony in a quarter of a century, Mr Sarkozy suggested Kinshasa and its Great Lakes neighbours work together for mutual benefit. No further details were released but DR Congo has major uranium reserves and was the source of some of the raw material for the atomic bombs the US dropped on Japan in World War II.
"In the east, it seems to me more necessary than ever to generate projects which unite," he said, reported AFP news agency. Mr Sarkozy has continued his two-day African tour by visiting the neighbouring Republic of Congo, previously a French colony.
He is expected in uranium-rich Niger on Friday.
Mr Sarkozy is joined by ministers and other executives from French firms - including France Telecom, cement maker Lafarge and construction group Vinci - chasing contracts in various sectors.
Addressing Kinshasa's national assembly in the first visit by a French president to the former Belgian colony in a quarter of a century, Mr Sarkozy suggested Kinshasa and its Great Lakes neighbours work together for their mutual benefit.
"The peoples of central Africa will not be changing their address. If they can develop good neighbourly relations, the peoples of central Africa will have a rich and peaceful life. If it's a case of might is right, the peoples of central Africa will stay poor and unhappy," he said.
He gained a round of applause from MPs for saying that Congolese sovereignty would not be violated.
Sarkozy's Africa policy shift Sarkozy's Africa policy shift
"Why not give a new momentum to what already exists... and why not take it further?"
Preparations for the visit were overshadowed by comments Mr Sarkozy made in January when he suggested DR Congo share its mineral wealth with Rwanda as a way to end violence around the main eastern city of Goma.Preparations for the visit were overshadowed by comments Mr Sarkozy made in January when he suggested DR Congo share its mineral wealth with Rwanda as a way to end violence around the main eastern city of Goma.
The idea triggered uproar with the Congolese media accusing Paris of seeking a "Balkanisation" of the country and trying to use DR Congo's mineral wealth to help mend its ties with Rwanda.The idea triggered uproar with the Congolese media accusing Paris of seeking a "Balkanisation" of the country and trying to use DR Congo's mineral wealth to help mend its ties with Rwanda.
Paris and Kigali have been at loggerheads for years over who is to blame for Rwanda's 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people were slaughtered.Paris and Kigali have been at loggerheads for years over who is to blame for Rwanda's 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people were slaughtered.
The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa says both MPs and the Congolese people wanted the French leader to make it clear his plan respected the sovereignty of DR Congo over its resources.
'Brave'
Ahead of the visit, aides in Mr Sarkozy's office said: "There is no French peace plan, no plan to share riches, it is not the right moment," reported AFP.Ahead of the visit, aides in Mr Sarkozy's office said: "There is no French peace plan, no plan to share riches, it is not the right moment," reported AFP.
Unimpressed
On Thursday Mr Sarkozy also praised as "brave" the Congolese leader's decision to invite Rwandan troops into his country in January for a five-week joint operation against rebel militias plaguing the neighbours' border.On Thursday Mr Sarkozy also praised as "brave" the Congolese leader's decision to invite Rwandan troops into his country in January for a five-week joint operation against rebel militias plaguing the neighbours' border.
Nicolas Sarkozy would review the guard of honour in KinshasaNicolas Sarkozy would review the guard of honour in Kinshasa
The move was politically sensitive as Rwanda has twice invaded the country in recent years and many Congolese were distrustful of the Kigali forces' presence. The move was politically sensitive as Rwanda has twice invaded the country in recent years and many Congolese distrusted the Kigali forces' presence.
The aim of the military campaign was to flush out rebel forces each government has accused the other of backing and which have been at the heart of the region's conflicts since Rwanda's genocide.The aim of the military campaign was to flush out rebel forces each government has accused the other of backing and which have been at the heart of the region's conflicts since Rwanda's genocide.
The DR Congo parliament's speaker was forced to quit on Wednesday after criticising Mr Kabila's decision to let in the Rwandan troops.The DR Congo parliament's speaker was forced to quit on Wednesday after criticising Mr Kabila's decision to let in the Rwandan troops.
People in Kinshasa interviewed by French radio seemed unimpressed by Mr Sarkozy's visit.People in Kinshasa interviewed by French radio seemed unimpressed by Mr Sarkozy's visit.
One man said: "Here, we do not depend on France, we do not depend on Belgium, we depend on ourselves."One man said: "Here, we do not depend on France, we do not depend on Belgium, we depend on ourselves."
Mr Sarkozy is joined by executives from France Telecom, the world's biggest cement maker Lafarge and the construction group Vinci, which is set to renovate Kinshasa's airport.
He is also visiting Brazzaville, capital of the smaller Republic of Congo, where the oil industry is dominated by French company Total.
Are you in the region? What do you think of Sarkozy's visit? Can he make a difference? You can send us your comments using the form below:Are you in the region? What do you think of Sarkozy's visit? Can he make a difference? You can send us your comments using the form below:
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