Wed Jan 29 07:06:25 UTC 2025: ## Kinshasa Embassies Stormed Amid Anti-M23 Protests
**KINSHASA, DRC (October 24, 2023)** – Protests erupted in Kinshasa today, targeting multiple embassies in response to the ongoing M23 rebel offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Hundreds of demonstrators, responding to a youth collective’s “Paralyse the City” call, stormed and vandalized the embassies of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, France, Belgium, and the United States.
The demonstrators accuse Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the M23 rebels, who seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, on Sunday after a rapid advance. Protesters expressed outrage at what they perceive as the international community’s inaction in the face of the crisis.
The Rwandan embassy was a particular focus of the anger, with demonstrators shouting slogans condemning Rwanda’s alleged support for the rebels and setting fire to tires nearby. The French embassy also sustained damage, including a fire and graffiti accusing France of long-standing betrayal. The Ugandan embassy was looted, with furniture being carried away.
The protests highlight the growing frustration and anger within the DRC over the escalating conflict and the perceived failure of international efforts to halt the M23 advance. The scale of the embassy attacks underscores the intensity of the public’s reaction. The Congolese government has yet to issue an official statement on the events.
First Piper 