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Sarkozy visits Congolese leader Sarkozy outlines Congo peace plan
(20 minutes later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss ways of securing peace in the troubled east of the country. 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.
Mr Sarkozy, who is joined by French ministers and businessmen, has held talks with President Joseph Kabila. Addressing parliament in Kinshasa, he also praised Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila's joint operation with Rwanda against rebels.
The delegation hopes to agree contracts in various sectors, including mining, telecommunications and infrastructure. 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.During his two-day African tour, Mr Sarkozy will also visit the Republic of Congo and Niger, ex-French colonies.
It is the first visit by a French president to DR Congo, a former Belgian colony, for 25 years. He is joined by French ministers and business executives seeking contracts in various sectors, including mining, telecommunications and infrastructure.
Addressing parliament in Kinshasa, Mr Sarkozy congratulated President Kabila for his efforts to reduce tensions with former enemies Uganda and, in particular, Rwanda. 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.
He 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. "In the east, it seems to me more necessary than ever to generate projects which unite," he said, reported AFP news agency.
Sarkozy's Africa policy shift Sarkozy's Africa policy shift
The joint operation was politically sensitive as Rwanda has twice invaded the country in recent years and many Congolese were distrustful of the Kigali forces' presence. "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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Preparations for the visit have been 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. People in Kinshasa interviewed by French radio seemed unimpressed by Mr Sarkozy's visit.
The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa says both MPs and the Congolese people want the French leader to make it clear his plan respects the sovereignty of DR Congo over its resources. 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.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.
Later on Thursday he will cross the mighty Congo river to Brazzaville, capital of the smaller Republic of Congo, where the oil industry is dominated by French company Total. He is also visiting Brazzaville, capital of the smaller Republic of Congo, where the oil industry is dominated by French company Total.
But people in Kinshasa interviewed by French radio seemed unimpressed by Mr Sarkozy's visit.
One man said: "Who is he? Here in Kinshasa, here in the DRC, who is Sarkozy to come here and resolve the problems of Rwanda?"
Another man said: "Here, we do not depend on France, we do not depend on Belgium, we depend on ourselves."
The Kivus region of eastern DR Congo was convulsed by fighting late last year as renegade General Laurent Nkunda fought government forces.
Gen Nkunda was arrested by Rwandan forces in January during the joint operation with Congolese forces.
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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