Protesters at Rwandan embassy demand action against violence in Eastern Congo

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Rwandan embassy in Brussels on Saturday, calling for an end to the violence in eastern Congo.

The protesters accused the Rwandan regime of supporting the rebel group M23, which recently seized the city of Goma, allegedly to exploit Congolese mineral resources. They urged the international community to impose sanctions on president Paul Kagame.

"Kagame is pursuing a policy of theft in North Kivu; he is stealing Congolese minerals," protesters said. "Rwanda is the largest exporter of coltan, but where does that coltan come from? Not from Rwandan mines, but from North Kivu." They further accused Western governments of turning a blind eye due to Rwanda’s economic and geopolitical role, including its willingness to accept asylum seekers from Europe.

_{© BELGA VIDEO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}

Another protester linked the current crisis to historical Western intervention: "The West murdered [former Congolese prime minister Patrice] Lumumba and imposed Mobutu on us, and is now trying to impose Kagame." They stressed that expressions of concern were no longer enough, saying: "Being 'shocked' by what is happening in eastern Congo is no longer sufficient - action must be taken, sanctions must be imposed."

^{Demonstrators in front of the Rwandan embassy in Brussels, 8 February 2025 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}

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