JOHANNESBURG, KIGALI RWANDA, NAIROBI, Kenya
African countries on Tuesday condemned attacks on their diplomatic missions in the capital of the Congo as M23 rebels continued their offensive in Goma.
Protesters attacked the French and US embassies, a UN building and several African embassies including Kenya Uganda and Rwanda.
They accused the embassies of being allies of Rwanda whom they blame for supporting the M23 rebels. The rebels claimed to have taken control of Goma in eastern Congo on Monday.
Kinshasa 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.
“These unfortunate attacks happened in the full glare of DRC security officers who took no action to mitigate the situation,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, adding that two staff members were forced to flee and seek refuge.
Rwanda’s Ambassador-at-large to the Great Lakes Region and former Ambassador to Congo, Vincent Karega, condemned the attack on its embassy building which was recently closed because of strained relations with Congo.
“Destruction in Kinshasa of a Congolese investment where until its closure the Rwandan Embassy rented a few m2 of offices,” Karega wrote on X, denoting the size of the space of the embassy. “An unspeakable madness and a process of self-destruction of the DRC. Notorious absence of the State.”
Kenya acknowledged assurances from Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner who also pledged Tuesday to take measures to restore order and compensate Kenya for damages.
The M23 rebels have intensified their fight against the Congolese army in Goma, targeting the city for its strategic and economic importance. Goma is a gateway to some of the most mineral-rich areas in the world.
The clashes have claimed the lives of 13 South African peacekeepers, three Malawian soldiers and a UN peacekeeper.
– South Africa condemns Rwanda
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola strongly condemned on Tuesday the recent activities of the M23 rebels in North Kivu Province.
“We would also like to condemn Rwanda for its support of the M23 as clearly proven by various United Nations reports of experts. We therefore call upon Rwanda to cease its support to the M23 and for its forces to withdraw from the DRC,’’ Lamola said at a ministerial meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the situation in Congo.
“The current security situation in the eastern DRC is utterly appalling and unacceptable,’’ he said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held a telephone call Monday with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, and discussed developments in eastern Congo and the escalation in fighting that has resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers.
“The two heads of state have agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks by all parties to the conflict,” according to a statement from Ramaphosa’s office.
Uganda Airlines announced Tuesday it was suspending all flights to Congo following an attack on its embassy and others.
“The suspension has become necessary as a result of the ongoing unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including in the capital Kinshasa. Flights will remain suspended until the situation warrants normal operations,’’ it said,
Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa said Tuesday the Foreign Minister will provide a detailed briefing on the attack at the embassy.
He also said the government would inform parliament of measures being taken to ensure the safety of Ugandans in Congo.
At least 25 people have been killed in Goma, as well as nine in Rwanda. Hundreds have been injured in the fighting.
Residents said government forces and 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 Congolese government has failed to address their grievances, particularly regarding their safety and integration into the national military.
The Congolese government, however, accuses the M23 of destabilizing the area with external support, particularly from neighboring Rwanda.
