Canada’s participation at this year’s 2023 Francophone Games to be staged in Kinshasa is uncertain as the government has expressed concern over the political and security in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With just over a month to go before the Games getting underway on July 28, the Canadian have shown no commitment to funding the athletes’ trip to Kinshasa.
According to Radio Canada, apart from the security concerns, the Canadian government have also been discouraged by the challenges and delays that have characterized the preparations for the Games.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government has since effected a notice to avoid non-essential travels to the DR Congo, Radio Canada also revealed.
“Not only have there been clashes between demonstrators, opponents and law enforcement during political demonstrations in the context of the general elections scheduled for December 2023, but there are threats of terrorist acts more especially in the east of the country,” Radio Canada revealed.
However, Radio Canada claims that possibilities for the athletes to participate at the Games are still being studied.
The 2023 IX Games of La Francophone are set take place from July 28 through to August 6 in Kinshasa.