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- The DRC says it has no military deal with Russia, despite what was reported in Moscow.
- But it did reach out for such help a quarter of a century ago.
- Rwanda claimed European mercenaries operating in the eastern DRC were causing chaos, meanwhile South Africa is leading a peacekeeping force in the area.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) insists it has not entered into any kind of military collaboration with Russia, despite reports by state-controlled media in Moscow that a deal has been made.
Russian news agency Tass said this week the two countries were working on an agreement that would cover "training of the military and other formats of cooperation" on top of joint exercises and "visits by warships and warplanes at an invitation".
According to Tass, Russia's defence and foreign ministries had worked together on the deal, and it had been approved by the broader government.
But in a statement, the DRC's Ministry of Communication and the Media said that "to date, there is no military cooperation agreement signed between Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo."
The DRC said, if anything, the media reports in Russia were referring to a previous proposal that didn't go anywhere because Russia didn't get back to discuss it with the DRC – and which is now 25 years old.
"The draft cooperation agreement in question is a process initiated by both parties in 1999. Since then, this process has taken a lot of time," the DRC said.
The DRC is struggling to deal with the M23 rebel menace in the eastern part of the country's North Kivu province.
More than a hundred militias are operating in the DRC, known as the "mai mai", all of them contributing to instability and insecurity in the country.
While denying links with Russia militarily, last year, Africa Intelligence reported that the DRC was locked in negotiations with both Ukraine and Russia to equip its growing army as it stepped up its fight against rebel groups in the East.
Outside the military, the DRC and Russia have been linked to agreements such as the construction of a pipeline that would bring together Russia's oil company, Lukoil, and Congolese oil company, Société Nationale Des Pétroles Du Congo.
Europeans in DRC conflict
In a letter addressed to the African Union's Security Council, Rwanda claimed the DRC was working with European mercenaries in the fight against the M23, which Kigali said was causing more chaos.
The M23 rebels last month claimed to have killed two Romanians described as mercenaries.
Romania, through its foreign affairs ministry, also confirmed the death of soldiers fighting in North Kivu.
A report by the DRC government's disarmament and reintegration programme identified 14 foreign-armed groups doing battle in the eastern part of the country.
One of the most notable is a Bulgarian-registered but French-owned private contractor, Agemira run by Olivier Bazin.
Former French legionnaire Horatiu Potra oversees Romanian military instructors deployed in eastern DRC.
Ahead of the 20 December general elections, President Felix Tshisekedi confirmed the presence of Romanians in the east, whom he called instructors.
South Africa is currently leading a regional peacekeeping force in the eastern DRC.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
