Chaotic scenes unfolded in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as protesters vandalized embassies and set tyres ablaze, denouncing the perceived inaction of the international community amid the escalating conflict in the eastern city of Goma.
Hundreds of demonstrators, responding to a call by a youth collective to “Paralyse the City,” took to the streets on Tuesday, targeting the embassies of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, France, Belgium, and the United States. They accused Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the M23 armed group, which seized Goma’s airport following intense clashes in North Kivu province.
Chanting slogans and setting fires, protesters expressed anger at foreign nations, whom they blamed for failing to intervene decisively. In front of the Rwandan embassy, a demonstrator shouted, “Enough is enough; we’re going to destroy everything here,” as thick smoke from burning tyres filled the air.
The French embassy was also attacked, with part of its perimeter wall set on fire. Graffiti on the building read, “Betrayal over a long period of time… let’s end it now.” Similar hostility was directed at Belgium and the US embassies, while the Ugandan mission was looted, with demonstrators taking away furniture using motorcycles and taxis.
The unrest highlights the deep frustration among Congolese citizens over the ongoing violence in the east, where M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan troops, have made rapid territorial gains. With tensions at a boiling point, the DRC government faces mounting pressure to address security concerns and restore order in the capital.
