Protesters attack French, other embassies in Congo
According to officials, protesters in the Democratic Republic of Congo have attacked the French embassy and three African embassies.
The fire at the French embassy in the country’s capital Kinshasa has been under control, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on X.
“These attacks are unacceptable,’’ he added, saying everything was being done to ensure the safety of French citizens and embassy staff.
The Kenya Government said its embassy and those of South Africa and Uganda had also been targeted.
The attacks on the embassies followed days of advancements by the rebel militia M23 in the east of the country.
On Monday, amid heavy fighting, the rebels invaded the strategically important provincial capital of Goma, which is located in one of Congo’s most resource-rich areas and borders on Rwanda.
This is not the first time that Congolese have protested against Western governments and attacked embassies in Kinshasa.
Similar violent protests occurred in the capital in February and August last year.
The demonstrators accuse Western and other African governments of not using their influence on neighbouring Rwanda to curb the rebel attacks in the east. (dpa/NAN)
