The USA Embassy in DR Congo has been set on fire by angry mob
Protesters in the Democratic Republic of Congo set fire to the U.S. embassy and other diplomatic missions in Kinshasa on Tuesday, as tensions flared over the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel offensive in the country’s eastern region. The demonstrators, accusing Western and African nations of supporting Rwanda’s alleged backing of the rebels, targeted embassies belonging to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and the United Nations, according to European diplomats.
The protests turned violent as rioters set embassy gates ablaze, scaled walls, and vandalized properties. At the French embassy, protesters chipped away at cement letters, while tires were burned on railings. Joseph Ngoy, a protester, blamed Rwanda and its alleged allies, including France, Belgium, and the U.S., for the ongoing conflict, expressing frustration over the repeated cycles of violence.
Congo has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels and deploying soldiers to aid them, while Rwanda denies the allegations, claiming Congo has undermined peace efforts and failed to address militia threats in the east. A Reuters reporter witnessed the Ugandan embassy being ransacked, with furniture looted and curtains torn down. Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Okello Oryem described the chaos, noting that marauding youths were burning embassies and spreading fear.
Belgian and French officials confirmed fires at their compounds, with Belgian spokesperson David Jordens stating that the gate was set ablaze but quickly contained, prompting requests for additional security from Congolese authorities. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters in some areas, but witnesses reported that security forces did not intervene when the Kenyan embassy was attacked. One witness suggested the attackers appeared to follow coordinated instructions.
Congo’s Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya called for peaceful protests, urging citizens not to target diplomatic infrastructures. He later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control. The unrest highlights the deep-seated anger over the conflict in the east, which has plagued the region for decades.
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