France, Canada focus attention on Congo rights record
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France and Canada urged leaders from the French-speaking world to reinforce democracy and human rights during a summit in Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, in comments that focused attention squarely on the host.
Congo has been widely criticised for a flawed election last year that won President Joseph Kabila a second term, and for killings, rapes and other abuses committed by fighters in the rebel-plagued eastern province of North Kivu.
“Democracy is not a lesson. Democracy is a right, and for those in power it is a responsibility,†French President Francois Hollande told reporters after a meeting with civil society group leaders in Kinshasa.
Hollande is the star invitee to this year’s Francophonie summit - the first to be held in central Africa - but cast a pall over preparations last week by calling Congo’s rights record “totally unacceptableâ€.
Representatives from more than 70 French-speaking countries arrived in Kinshasa for the 14th Francophonie summit which runs until October 14, with Congo’s M23 rebellion and the Islamist takeover of northern Mali topping the agenda.
At the summit’s opening ceremony Hollande greeted Kabila with the briefest of handshakes but warmly embraced Abdou Diouf, the former Senegalese president and current secretary general of the Francophonie.
Members of Hollande’s entourage said Hollande had earlier met privately with Kabila for a “frank and direct†discussion about human rights that lasted 30 minutes. He also held a meeting with Congo’s top opposition figure.—Reuters
