An international conference in Paris on the Great Lakes region has concluded with more than €1.5 billion pledged in aid, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. The funding aims to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries.
Macron said the pledges came from around 60 countries and organisations represented at the conference, co-hosted by France and Togo. “We cannot remain silent spectators of the tragedy unfolding in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he stated.
The announcement comes as the UN warns that millions in the DRC face acute hunger, following a sharp reduction in international aid. The UN’s appeal for $2.5 billion in humanitarian support for the DRC remains only 16 percent funded.
Humanitarian Commitments and Reactions
The pledged funds will go toward food, medicine, and development projects, including peace-building efforts. However, aid groups noted that part of the total includes previously announced commitments.
Luc Lamprière, Director of the Forum of International NGOs in the DRC, welcomed the renewed support but cautioned:
“The Paris conference sent an important signal — at least in rhetoric and pledges, international solidarity remains alive. But these declarations will only have meaning if they translate into action on the ground.”
Goma Airport to Reopen for Humanitarian Flights
President Macron also announced the partial reopening of Goma Airport in eastern DRC “in the coming weeks” to facilitate humanitarian flights and aid corridors, emphasizing that the move would be carried out “respecting Congolese sovereignty.”
The M23 rebel movement, active in the region and accused by the UN of receiving support from Rwanda — allegations Kigali denies — has captured key cities including Goma and Bukavu, disrupting aid deliveries.
Meanwhile, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi unveiled a $5 billion reconstruction plan for North and South Kivu, to be implemented once peace is restored.
Aid Obstacles and Diplomatic Disputes
Not all stakeholders welcomed the Paris decision. Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the AFC/M23 movement, described the move as “disconnected from realities on the ground.”
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also questioned the initiative, saying discussions on Goma’s reopening should occur within ongoing Qatar peace talks between the DRC government and M23.
Humanitarian organisations, however, cautiously welcomed the development. Kevin Goldberg, Director of Solidarités International, noted:
“Reopening Goma Airport would help, but it’s not the only challenge. Ground transport and secure routes are just as critical.”
Escalating Crisis
According to Oxfam France, more than 21 million people in the DRC — nearly one-fifth of the population — require humanitarian assistance, with 5.2 million internally displaced. Violence driven by competition over the country’s mineral wealth has persisted for decades, claiming millions of lives.
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, the African Union’s mediator for the Great Lakes region, urged greater oversight and transparency in aid delivery, stressing that assistance must “alleviate suffering without fostering dependency.”
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