DRC protesters target embassies in Kinshasa over M23's Goma raid

Security personnel stand guard in front of the French Embassy following an attack on the building during a demonstration against the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa, on January 28, 2025. (Photo/AFP)

Three days of clashes between the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) army and M23 fighters allegedly supported by Rwandan soldiers have killed more than 100 people in Goma city, according to an AFP tally of tolls from the eastern Congolese city's hospitals, a crisis that has sparked public fury in DRC's capital Kinshasa.

Nearly 1,000 wounded in the fighting have also flooded the capital of mineral-rich North Kivu province's hospitals, while a medic contacted by AFP said on Tuesday that "many bodies are still in the city" which "must be recovered as soon as possible" to avoid sanitary risks.

Meanwhile, vandalised embassies, looted supermarkets and piles of burning tyres marked chaotic demonstrations on Tuesday in capital Kinshasa to denounce the "inaction" of the international community over the conflict raging in Goma.

On foot or on motorbikes, hundreds of angry demonstrators responding to the "Paralyse the City" call of a youth collective gathered in the upscale district of Gombe in the north of Kinshasa and targeted the embassies of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, France, Belgium and the United States.

They accused Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the armed group M23 which after a lightning offensive in North Kivu province with the alleged support of Rwandan troops entered the regional capital Goma on Sunday.

On Tuesday, they had taken control of its airport after raging street battles. Goma is a gateway to some of the most mineral-rich areas in the world.

The clashes have also claimed the lives of 13 South African peacekeepers, three Malawian soldiers and a UN peacekeeper.

The demonstrators accused the other countries of diplomatic inaction.

"Enough is enough", "We're going to destroy everything here. Today, we're going to finish with Rwanda," shouted one demonstrator to applause in front of the building that houses the Rwandan embassy in Kinshasa.

African countries immediately condemned attacks on their diplomatic missions in Kinshasa where the federal government claimed Rwandan forces were present during the takeover.

Video footage shared by The New Times showed Rwanda’s Embassy set on fire. It said no Rwandan diplomat was present at the time of the attack.

Kenya strongly condemned the attacks and looting of its embassy and described it as a grave violation of international law.

France denounced the attacks as "unacceptable" while the Congolese authorities called for calm.

"We have the right to express our anger but let's do it peacefully, let's not attack the consular structures," government spokesman Patrick Muyaya told state television RTNC.

Fighting rages on

Residents of Goma said government forces and M23 rebels control parts of the city of 3 million people, including internally displaced persons.

The eastern Congo is home to vast deposits of valuable resources, including coltan, gold and tin, which are crucial for global industries such as electronics. Analysts believe the M23 rebels want to control those resources to fund their operations and gain leverage in negotiations with the government.

The group claims its fight is also driven by grievances about alleged discrimination against Tutsi communities in the region. They argue that the DRC government has failed to address their grievances, particularly regarding their safety and integration into the national military.

The DRC government, however, accuses the M23 of destabilising the area with external support, particularly from neighboring Rwanda.

M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma told Anadolu Agency via telephone late on Tuesday that his fighters were "in control of the city of Goma."

"I am in Goma now. Everything is very nice, very good and there is no problem," he said. "Total control my brother … there is no problem," he said, but refused to confirm if the city was under full control of the M23 rebels.

"Goma airport is completely secured by lions," he said, referring to M23 rebels.

However, the government in Kinshasa said on Monday that Goma "did not completely fall" to the rebels.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered Türkiye's services as a mediator between Kinshasa and Kigali following the collapse of the latest peace talks brokered by Angola in December.

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Source: TRT