Thousands hold protests in the Congolese capital Kinshasa against M23 rebels

By E K Benj – Updated Tuesday 05th Dec 2022

Report by Chris Ocamringa & Halligan Agade

Thousands of Congolese residents staged protests in the Congolese capital Kinshasa on Sunday against the M23 rebels who have taken control of several territories in the eastern DR Congo. The demonstrations come just four days after the Congolese government accused the M23 rebels of killing nearly 100 people in a village in the country’s east.

FILE PIC: Members of the Congolese civil society and residents protest. /REUTERS

Fighting between Congolese forces and the M23 rebels has claimed many lives and forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes since last November.

On Thursday, local authorities in eastern DRC accused the M23 rebels of killing more than 100 civilians in the village of Kishishe.

The DRC government announced three days of national mourning for the massacre which the M23 rebels have denied taking part in it.

They said 8 civilians were killed by stray bullets in that battle between them and other militia groups backed by the Congolese military.

A recent peace initiative led by the East African Community ordered a ceasefire and the withdrawal of M23 rebels from the occupied areas.

But the rebels are still in those areas.

Calls are growing among Congolese citizens for the international community to do more to restore peace in eastern DRC.

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