DRC: Further protests over Rwandan interference planned in Kinshasa June 28

Event

Further protests over alleged Rwandan interference are planned in Kinshasa June 28. Participants will gather from 07:00 in front of the Rwandan Embassy. The gatherings may draw hundreds of people.

Increased security and localized road disruptions are likely near protest sites. Police may quickly resort to force and riot control tactics to disperse protesters if they are overly disruptive. Similar protests have been met with violence in the past. Further protests are likely in the coming weeks in urban centers across the country, especially in Kinshasa and Goma.

Context

The protests come amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between Rwanda and DRC. Protests over Rwandan interference have been reported on a regular basis in recent weeks, including in Kinshasa and Goma. DRC officials recently accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels in eastern DRC. Since November 2021, the M23 rebel group has increased attacks targeting armed forces in the eastern DRC. The M23 is seeking to pressure the government to honor a peace agreement signed in 2013, allowing the reintegration of rebels into society, among other issues. The renewed activity of M23 militants and further diplomatic rows and cross-border incidents may aggravate tensions in the region.

Advice

Avoid all demonstrations. Allow additional time to reach destinations near the protest venues. If violence breaks out, leave the area immediately, and take shelter in a secure, nongovernmental building.