Widespread protests and violent clashes have erupted in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as frustration mounts over the escalating conflict in the country’s eastern region.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets, targeting foreign embassies and setting fires, blaming Rwanda and Uganda for backing the M23 armed group, which has seized key areas in Goma, North Kivu province.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, protesters responding to a call by a youth movement to “Paralyse the City” stormed the diplomatic district in Gombe, vandalizing the embassies of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, France, Belgium, and the United States.
The demonstrators accused these nations of either supporting the rebels or failing to intervene in the conflict.
Former South African president Thabo Mbeki is of the opinion that the DR Congo is to blame for the conflict in Eastern DRC, for failing to protect the residents, thus forcing the formation of rebel entities like M23. The stance may seem contrasting that of the incumbent… pic.twitter.com/gYMFpNSMIK
— Kenya News Centre🇰🇪 (@KenyaNewsCentre) January 30, 2025
Escalating Violence and Embassy Attacks
The protests quickly turned violent, with tyres set ablaze, buildings looted, and walls defaced with graffiti. In front of the Rwandan embassy, one protester declared:
👉 “Enough is enough, we’re going to destroy everything here. Today, we’re going to finish with Rwanda.”
The French embassy’s perimeter wall was set on fire, with a message scrawled across it reading:
👉 “Betrayal over a long period of time … let’s end it now.”
Looters stormed the Ugandan embassy, making off with furniture on motorcycles and taxis, while supermarkets in the area were also ransacked.
#DRCongo US Embassy set on fire amid protests in DR Congo’s capital. pic.twitter.com/lCKYvqgHCw
— Journal jewelery (@journaljewelery) January 29, 2025
International Reactions
In response to the unrest, Belgium’s foreign ministry issued an urgent travel advisory, warning its citizens against traveling to DR Congo. The statement read:
👉 “All travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently discouraged.”
Following an attack on its embassy, Belgium urged its nationals in Kinshasa to leave the country if possible. The Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines also suspended flights to and from Kinshasa, stating that future operations will depend on a security review.
Meanwhile, France, the European Union, and Kenya have strongly condemned the attacks on diplomatic missions, calling for an end to the violence.
🇨🇩🇷🇼Anti-Rwanda protests in Kinshasa, DR Congo, are ongoing, and protesters are patrolling the streets, including outside the U.S. Embassy. pic.twitter.com/ACmve5GAgt
— SYMBOL OF HOPE🫡 (@Chipropro) January 29, 2025
The Conflict in Eastern DR Congo
The latest tensions are fueled by the rapid advance of the M23 rebel group, which captured Goma’s airport on Tuesday after a fierce battle with government forces. Backed by Rwandan troops, the rebels have continued their offensive in North Kivu province, forcing thousands of civilians to flee.
With Kinshasa in turmoil and Goma under siege, the crisis in DR Congo remains volatile, as the government struggles to contain both internal unrest and the growing rebel threat in the east.
WATCH: President #Kagame speaks about his conversation with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the crisis in Eastern DR Congo. pic.twitter.com/nOYxFk9QAJ
— Isabane Patrick (@patrick_isabane) January 30, 2025
