Russia
Russia’s ambassador to France summoned to the Quai d’Orsay (Feb. 19, 2024)

On February 19, the Russian ambassador to France was summoned to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs following the death of political opposition leader Alexey Navalny on February 16 in an Arctic penal colony.

France holds the Russian authorities fully responsible for Alexey Navalny’s death amid conditions of detention that had sharply deteriorated since his transfer to the penal colony. It demands a thorough, independent investigation in order to get to the bottom of this tragic event.

France calls for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in Russia and expresses its deep concern over the failing health of opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Morza.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Situation in the eastern DRC (Feb. 20, 2024)

France is deeply concerned by the situation in eastern Congo, North Kivu and particularly the area around Goma and Sake. Attacks on the DRC’s territorial integrity and the conditions faced by civilian populations are unacceptable. France condemns the ongoing Rwanda-backed M23 offensive, as well as the presence of Rwandan forces on Congolese soil.

M23 must bring an immediate halt to the fighting and withdraw from all the areas it occupies in line with the decisions taken within the framework of the Luanda Process. We call on Rwanda to end all support for M23 and to withdraw from Congolese territory. France calls on all armed groups to end the violence. In keeping with their commitments, the armed forces of the DRC must end all collaboration with the FDLR, the movement formed by the militias who committed the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

France reiterates its full support for regional mediation processes aimed at achieving a negotiated solution to the conflict.