DR Congo: EU, France condemn attacks on embassies – DW (English)

France has led European Union condemnation of attacks on embassies in Kinshasa. Germany said it had canceled planned consultations with Rwanda over alleged support for the M23 rebels, whose advance sparked the violence.The European Union on Tuesday condemned attacks on foreign embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid increasing violence centered on the city of Goma in the county’s east.A spokesman for the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels that the bloc was calling for the protection of diplomatic missions in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot specifically condemned an attack on France’s embassy in the capital, Kinshasa.”These attacks are unacceptable. Everything is being done to ensure the safety of our personnel and our citizens,” he said. The Belgian, Dutch, Kenyan, Rwandan, Ugandan and US embassies have also been attacked by protesters as hundreds of thousands of people flee amid fighting in the eastern part of the country.”Due to an increase in violence throughout the city of Kinshasa, the US Embassy in Kinshasa advises US citizens to shelter-in-place and then safely depart while commercial options are available,” read a statement from the US Embassy, urging US citizens to leave the country.”Please be aware that there may be roadblocks and protests on the road to the airport which could impact travel time and security.”Police fired teargas as protesters marched to the embassies in Kinshasa, looting or setting fires to parts of diplomatic buildings.Reporting from Kinshasa, DW correspondent Jonas Gerding said parts of the city resembled a “battlefield.””People were gathering … and they started to set the Rwandan embassy on fire … they started to burn tires, they started to riot,” he reported.”The police came and started to disperse the crowds with shots, the crowds moved on and began looting supermarkets. By the end of the day, the city looked devastated.”The protests are in response to the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels into Goma, a major city in the country’s conflict-torn east.Protesters are demanding that the international community pressure Rwanda over its alleged involvement.”We denounce the hypocrisy of the international community,” Timothee Tshishimbi, one of the protesters.”They must tell Rwanda to stop this adventure.”A spokesman for Germany’s development ministry said on Tuesday it had “canceled government consultations planned for February with Rwanda” and was “coordinating with other donors about further measures.”A statement read: “There can be no business as usual amid the current escalation. Talks on development cooperation can only resume when Rwanda and M23 end the escalation and withdraw.”On Tuesday, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the AFC rebel alliance that includes M23, told Reuters news agency that Goma airport was in rebel hands, which was also confirmed by diplomatic and security sources.”They have taken control of the airport, M23 fighters are there,” another security source told the AFP news agency, adding that “more than 1,200 Congolese soldiers have surrendered.”To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoSome protesters also claim that foreign nations are complicit in the incursion, which the Congolese government says also includes Rwandan troops.The M23 rebels are among 100 armed groups seeking a foothold in the mineral-rich region.Congolese security forces are seeking to slow the insurgents who advanced into Goma in recent days.The M23 rebels temporarily took over Goma in 2012 but were forced to withdraw under international pressure.They re-emerged in late 2021 with increasing support from Rwanda, according to Congo’s government and United Nations experts. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videorc,mf,rmt/wmr (AFP, Reuters)

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/dr-congo-eu-france-condemn-attacks-on-embassies/a-71434834