France denies deploying troops to DRC, says army is training Congolese forces

France's Training Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

France has clarified that it has not deployed troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A recent photo that appeared to show French soldiers in Kisangani led to this statement. The French embassy in Kinshasa confirmed that the involvement of the French army is limited to training the Congolese armed forces, known as FARDC, under a bilateral cooperation agreement established in 2022.

Kisangani, located in northeastern DRC, serves as a key center for the Congolese military's drone and logistics operations. The French army's mission in this region focuses on training the jungle battalions of the FARDC and is scheduled to continue until the end of next month.

Belgian forces are also involved in training FARDC soldiers, as part of the European Peace Facility. In the previous year, over 1,000 FARDC soldiers received training from MONUSCO peacekeepers, aimed at enhancing their capabilities to protect civilians from armed groups in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Based on reporting by Africanews.