https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240213/drc-protesters-set-fire-to-us-belgium-flags-and-target-western-embassies-1065055992.html

Videos: DRC Protesters Set Fire to US, Belgium Flags and Target Western Embassies

Videos: DRC Protesters Set Fire to US, Belgium Flags and Target Western Embassies

Sputnik Africa

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) stated last Saturday that its personnel and vehicles had been... 13.02.2024, Sputnik Africa

2024-02-13T11:24+0100

2024-02-13T11:24+0100

2024-02-13T13:07+0100

sub-saharan africa

united states (us)

belgium

democratic republic of the congo (drc)

politics

protests

west

central africa

united nations (un)

european union (eu)

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Protesters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) burned US and Belgian flags on Monday, claiming that the West is providing help to Rwanda, a neighboring country that is accused of supporting the M23 insurgency, which is threatening peace in the east of the country.Local police reportedly fired tear gas at the demonstrators.While some shouted "Leave our country, we don't want your hypocrisy," others threw stones to smash the security cameras at one of the US diplomatic offices, the Western media reported.Videos posted on X show that people cheering as a protester pulled down the EU flag from the entrance of the Memling Hotel in the heart of the DRC's capital, Kinshasa.Last Saturday, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC said its personnel and vehicles were attacked in Kinshasa and "strongly condemned" the attacks, adding that "weakening MONUSCO means strengthening the negative forces that it is fighting with its Congolese partners."The M23 group first rebelled against the government in 2012. However, they had a significant military setback in 2013 and subsequently dissolved. In 2021, the rebels resumed armed conflict, claiming that the country's authorities had breached agreements about the integration of disarmed M23 insurgents into the army.The DRC has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, although Rwanda has consistently refuted any affiliations with the insurgent group.Moreover, on Monday, the Congolese government said that the Rwandan armed forces dropped a bomb on a camp for displaced people in eastern DRC, seriously injuring eight people. According to media reports, the strike may have been carried out by the M23 rebel group.The international community has tried to help the country fight the insurgents. UN peacekeepers have been operating in the country for more than two decades to assist the DRC government in its peace settlement efforts, however, the government asked the peacekeeping mission to leave saying its work wasn't effective as the eastern part of the country continued to be destabilized.However, African countries also help fighting the rebels. Uganda, Kenya and Burundi participate in peacekeeping missions in the DRC, along with troops from South Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi. On Monday, South Africa also decided to send 2,900 soldiers to the east of the Congo.

united states (us)

belgium

democratic republic of the congo (drc)

west

central africa

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2024

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united states (us), belgium, democratic republic of the congo (drc), politics, protests, west, central africa, united nations (un), european union (eu), m23 rebels, security, rwanda