Hundreds of women dressed in black marched through the streets of Kinshasa on Wednesday, demanding an end to the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The peaceful demonstration, led by Minister of Gender, Family, and Children Gisele Ndaya, called for international action to halt the violence and condemned the alleged involvement of Rwanda in supporting rebel groups.
Banners raised by the protestors carried messages like “12 million victims since 1994,” “Pity the women and families of eastern DRC,” and “The Congo will remain whole and indivisible,” highlighting the human cost of the conflict and advocating for the country’s territorial integrity.
The march reached the president’s office, where Minister Ndaya submitted a statement criticizing the “expansionist wishes of Rwanda” and the “exploitation of the natural resources” of the DRC.
She further denounced the “silence and complicity of the international community” and their alleged “support to the aggressors” alongside an “inappropriate humanitarian aid response.”
Dada Kasele, whose father perished in the Second Congo War, expressed the shared sentiment of many demonstrators, stating, “We all know that the main killer is called Paul Kagame,” referring to the Rwandan president.
“We want peace, peace for our families, our parents.”
The renewed clashes in recent days around the strategic town of Sake have exacerbated concerns.
The DRC government, the United Nations, and Western nations accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, an allegation Kigali vehemently denies.
The Tutsi-led M23 group has captured significant territory in North Kivu since re-emerging in late 2021.
The demonstration in Kinshasa serves as a potent reminder of the human suffering caused by the ongoing conflict and underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.
The international community faces the challenge of addressing the complex dynamics of the situation while ensuring the protection of civilians and the restoration of stability in eastern DRC.
