Paris (TDI): France has confirmed that a limited number of its soldiers are currently present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stressing that their role is strictly confined to training and advisory support for local forces rather than direct combat operations.
Four units, each numbering around 800 soldiers, have been trained so far. The program covers skills including defensive and offensive combat, countering improvised explosive devices, and first aid.
These battalions were heavily engaged in fighting in the east of the country over the past two years, according to security sources.
The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns in eastern Congo and renewed scrutiny over foreign military involvement in Central Africa.
The French Armed Forces said that the deployment is part of a structured cooperation framework with the government in Kinshasa.
Paris was careful to highlight that its personnel are not engaged in frontline operations against armed groups active in the east of the country. France’s confirmation also comes at a time when Western influence in parts of Africa has faced mounting skepticism.
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In the Sahel, French forces withdrew from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following diplomatic rifts and military coups, marking a significant shift in Paris’s longstanding security posture in West Africa.
France has sought to reevaluate its military partnerships on the continent, moving toward smaller, training-focused missions rather than large scale counterterrorism deployments. The DRC, for its part, has diversified its security partnerships in response to persistent instability.
In addition to cooperation with France, Congolese authorities have worked with regional blocs such as the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community to bolster efforts against armed groups.
By limiting its role to instruction and institutional support, Paris appears intent on avoiding the perception of direct intervention while maintaining strategic ties with Kinshasa.
For Kinshasa, the support is framed as part of a longer-term effort to professionalize its armed forces and improve operational readiness.
