France, U.S., Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya Embassies Attacked in Congo

Summary:

• A European diplomat confirmed that the embassies of France, the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya were attacked during the protests.

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KINSHASA: Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fired tear gas on Tuesday to disperse protesters in the capital, Kinshasa, after a wave of embassy attacks linked to the ongoing conflict in the country’s east.

The demonstrators targeted the embassies of countries they accuse of supporting or enabling Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23 rebels, who recently seized the eastern provincial capital, Goma.

A European diplomat confirmed that the embassies of France, the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya were attacked during the protests.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the French embassy in Kinshasa had been attacked and briefly set on fire before the blaze was brought under control.

“All of this is because of Rwanda. What Rwanda is doing is in complicity with France, Belgium, the United States, and others. The people of Congo are tired. How many times should we die?” a protester told our reporter.

Protests erupted across Kinshasa, with demonstrators burning tires and clashing with police, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds, according to the correspondent on the ground.

On Monday, M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, marched into Goma, marking a significant escalation in the decades-long conflict in eastern DRC.

Protesters also attacked the Kenyan embassy, with witnesses reporting that soldiers stationed there did not intervene. Meanwhile, the Ugandan embassy was looted, our reporter observed.

Speaking on national television, Congo’s Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya, called for calm and urged protesters to refrain from targeting diplomatic missions.

“We have every right to express our anger, but let’s do it peacefully. Let’s not attack the consular infrastructures of countries accredited in Congo,” he said. Muyaya later stated that the situation had been brought under control.