Protests have increased in recent days in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, with crowds expressing their discontent with Western governments.
Protesters accuse Western governments of failing to use their influence to curb the violence in the east of the country and, more specifically, to prevent Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict.
Anti-Western protests
Protesters gathered outside the embassies of the United States and other Western countries, as well as in the city center over the weekend.
On Monday, they burned the American and Belgian flags, while a crowd set fire to tires in front of the headquarters of MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo).
Police responded by firing tear gas, while many international schools and foreign-owned businesses remained closed as a precaution.
DRC Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula assured Western diplomats and UN officials on Sunday that the government will protect them.
The conflict in eastern DRC
The protests follow advances by the M23 rebel group in recent weeks.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in the Masisi region to seek refuge in the city of Goma following the group’s deadly attacks.
Rwanda is accused by the DRC, the United Nations and many Western governments, including the United States and France, of supporting the M23 group.
Kigali continues to deny the accusations.
The M23 is one of several armed groups present in eastern DRC, a region plagued by decades of conflict, where rebels fight for control of mineral-rich lands.
In this article, we focus on recent protests that took place in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, against the supposed involvement of Western governments in the conflict in the east of the country. Protesters accuse these governments of failing to use their influence to stop the violence and prevent Rwanda from supporting the M23 rebel group.
These protests took shape in front of the embassies of the United States and other Western countries, as well as throughout the city center. American and Belgian flags were burned, and tires were set on fire in front of MONUSCO headquarters. The police responded by firing tear gas. Many international schools and foreign businesses have also chosen to close as a safety measure.
These protests follow recent advances by the M23 rebel group, which led to deadly attacks and massive population displacements in the Masisi region.. Rwanda is accused by the DRC, the United Nations and several Western governments of supporting the M23, although Kigali continues to deny these accusations.
It is important to note that the M23 is just one of many armed groups present in eastern DRC, where conflict has raged for decades. These groups fight for control of mineral-rich lands.