The demonstrators accuse the West and the United Nations of passivity in the face of the aggression of the country by the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda. Chancelleries are being called upon to pack up, despite several condemnations of Rwanda, notably by the United States and the European Union (EU). These demonstrations come after a call for mobilization launched by two preachers close to the regime against Western chancelleries in Kinshasa.
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Around a hundred demonstrators gathered this Saturday near the American, Chinese and Portuguese embassies in Kinshasa, also not far from MONUSCO headquarters. They were stopped by the police at the entrance to Avenue des Aviateurs, which houses these diplomatic representations.
Some carried banners reading “ get out, you hypocrites “, ” act or leave ” or, ” the West complicit in the Congolese genocide “. Beyond the press releases, these demonstrators want Western chancelleries to take stronger action against Rwanda.
Several MONUSCO vehicles were burned. Bintou Keita, the UN envoy to the country, denounced in a press release threats and attacks “ unacceptable » against United Nations agents and their families. Tires were also set on fire on Boulevard du 30-Juin.
Civil society NGOs, such as the Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, denounced “ complacency » of the security forces facing the protesters.
Earlier in the week, the embassies of France and Great Britain were also targeted.
Following an urgent security meeting, the Congolese government condemned “ energetically these acts of violence “.