France Clarifies Presence of Troops in Kisangani Amid Social Media Speculation

Kinshasa, February 17, 2026 - The Embassy of France in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has dismissed claims of a secret deployment of French troops to Kisangani, stating that the personnel seen in the city are part of an ongoing military training partnership with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since February 15, 2026, photos circulating on social media have shown French soldiers in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, prompting speculation about their possible involvement in the conflict in eastern DRC. The speculation intensified amid claims that Kisangani serves as a strategic hub where the Congolese army and foreign mercenaries prepare air operations targeting positions held by the AFC/M23 armed group, including areas where civilians are present. “No Secret Deployment” In response, the French Embassy emphasized that the presence of French troops is part of a transparent and longstanding bilateral military cooperation program. “The French military is training the DRC military, at the request of the DRC government. It is a normal bilateral partnership; it will not be sent there in secret. We have openly announced the activities based on our partnership,” the Embassy said in a statement. According to French officials, the cooperation includes training Congolese soldiers in jungle warfare techniques. The Embassy shared images of training sessions conducted in Kisangani in 2022 as well as more recent sessions from February 2026, underscoring the continuity of the program. The clarification comes as tensions remain high in eastern DRC, where fighting between government forces and AFC/M23 rebels continues to shape regional security dynamics.