A series of demonstrations started in the DRC, targeting Rwanda. The Congolese government officially accuses it of supporting the M23 in the ongoing fighting in the East against the Congolese armed forces. In the center of the Congolese capital, hundreds of activists from citizens' movements, youth groups and other anonymous people demonstrate against Rwanda.
Above all, it was a demonstration of support for the Congolese armed forces. The protesters formed a circle around the flags spread on the cobblestones. Each held a candle and chanted slogans hostile to Kigali. The demonstrators also demanded a break in diplomatic relations with Rwanda and the expulsion of the ambassador stationed in Kinshasa. The crowd also called for the recalling of the DRC ambassador to Rwanda.
Vincent Karega, the Rwandan ambassador, has still not been summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Protesters accuse the government of appeasement. "We are here to show our solidarity with our compatriots in the East who are dying day after day and asking to expel Ambassador Karega. Let him go home, we don't need him to stay here. We're in a time of diplomatic breakdown."
"We are here to rekindle the patriotic flame. Today, we demand from the Congolese government a full stop to appeasement. Rwanda supports the M23 and we will not allow a nanometer of our territory to be invaded by the neighboring country," read the demonstrators' signs.
The demonstration passed off without violence. In the meantime, Kinshasa wants to dialogue with Kigali, “but these talks must be sincere”. This is the response of Patrick Muyaya, the spokesperson for the Congolese government who spoke last night to journalists in Kinshasa.
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