A series of demonstrations started in the DRC on Monday 30 May. They target Rwanda, which is officially accused by the Congolese government of supporting the M23 in the ongoing fighting in the east against the Congolese armed forces. At the central station of the Congolese capital, hundreds of activists from citizens’ movements, youth groups and other anonymous people are demonstrating against Rwanda.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
It was to be above all a demonstration of support for the armed forces. The protesters form a circle around the flags spread on the cobblestones. They each have a candle and are chanting slogans hostile to the Rwandan authorities.
Some demonstrators do not spare the Congolese authorities either. At the start of the demonstration, groups sang slogans hostile to the regime in place, which boasted, last quarter, of its relations with Kigali.
The Rwandan ambassador targeted
Another message chanted by the demonstrators, that of the request for a break in diplomatic relations with Rwanda and the expulsion of the ambassador stationed in Kinshasa. The crowd demands the recall of the DRC ambassador to Rwanda.
Another anger: 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 to ask for the expulsion of Ambassador Karega, get carried away Soraya. Let him go home, we don’t need him to stay here. We are in a time of diplomatic rupture. »
Appeal to the international community
“ It’s now or never “, Could we read on a sign behind Carbone Beni, of the Filimbi citizen movement. ” We are here to rekindle the patriotic flame. Today, we demand from the Congolese government a total stop of complacency. Rwanda supports the M23 and we will not allow a nanometer of our territory to be invaded by neighboring countries. »
With a raised fist, Welcome Matumo, from la Lucha, goes further: The international community must clearly designate Rwanda as the aggressor and apply strong and economic sanctions to it, as we did against Putin. What Kagame is doing is exactly what Putin is doing in Ukraine. »
The demonstration passed off without incident. Others are announced, this time in front of the Rwandan embassy. 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.
Patrick Muyaya, Congolese government spokesman
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