DRC: Opposition and civil society demonstrate against Rwanda and the M23
Audio 01:33
The city of Kinshasa at sunset, February 8, 2021 (illustrative image).
© Alexis Huguet, RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
Demonstrations follow one another in Kinshasa against the reactivation of the M23 rebellion in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in North Kivu, struggling with the Congolese army.
After a rally in front of the Rwandan embassy, accused of supporting this rebellion, a few thousand demonstrators, including the opponent Martin Fayulu, took to the streets on Friday June 3.
They also called for greater involvement of the international community in the management of this crisis.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Patient Ligodi
With a white shirt, dark glasses, the rapper Lexxus Legal is mobilized alongside
the opponent Martin Fayulu
.
The artist who is more famous for his political commitment than for his music does not want there to be any confusion:
“
We have no problem with
the Rwandan people
.
We are married in history, we will be neighbors until the end.
Our main problem is Mr. [Paul] Kagame with his regime who is bullying the Congo and who are seeking the annihilation of the Congolese and the annexation of his territory.
»
Opposition MP Jean-Baptiste Kasekwa also took part in the march.
For him, all the condemnations of the international community
against the M23
are not enough: "
We ask that all these people be judged, that an international tribunal for the Congo be established so that these people be judged for all the evil they have done to the Congolese people
".
For his part, Martin Fayulu asks for the involvement of the international community for a reconciliation between the
Rwandan rebels active in the east of the DRC and the government of Paul Kagame
: "
We ask the UN to do everything and to demand Rwandan government and the Ugandan government to repatriate their rebels, let them go home.
»
Martin Fayulu's proposal then referred to the Nairobi conclave, held last April between the leaders of the East African community on the armed groups that roam this part of the continent.
From this meeting, the DRC began direct discussions
with the Congolese armed groups
.
But apart from Kinshasa, only Bujumbura has reached out to Burundian rebels active in eastern DRC.
“We march to support our soldiers”
Under a blazing sun in Kinshasa, cars and motorcycles gradually gave way to a few thousand demonstrators.
Among them is Daniel.
Congolese tricolor flag around his neck, this young man in his twenties could not stay at home, he says:
“
We marched to support our soldiers who are on the front line and who are fighting.
We also marched for our brothers who are in the east of the country and who are suffering the atrocities.
We marched to say that we are together
”.
Banners and placards deployed, the demonstrators also sing against Paul Kagame.
According to them, the instigator of
this new violence
is none other than the Rwandan president.
Devos Kitoko is secretary general of ECIDE, the party of Martin Fayulu: “
The M23 does not exist.
It is a crude montage of the Rwandan government to justify the destabilization of our country
”
"
We ask Felix Tshisekedi to break all economic contracts
" with Kigali
Devos Kitoko also believes that Kinshasa is not so firm vis-à-vis Kigali.
According to him, other measures must be taken.
“
We ask Félix Tshisekedi to break all the economic and financial contracts he signed with Paul Kagame.
He must also expel all ceased business the Rwandan ambassador.
Enough is enough, it has to stop
”.
The demonstration which started timidly ended in an incident between demonstrators and police.
The blood pressure eventually subsided after a few minutes.
“
The message got through
,” rejoices one of the organizers.
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