By Ali Ramazani
Kisangani, 15 FEB. 2004—Across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, voices united in protest on Thursday, condemning alleged support from Rwanda and Western nations for a rebel group perpetuating turmoil in the region.
In Bukavu, the capital of Sud-Kivu province, hundreds of demonstrators marched peacefully, calling for the liberation of territories in neighboring Nord-Kivu currently under the control of M23 rebels, as reported by AFP reporters.
Similar sentiments echoed in Kisangani, located in Tshopo province, where protestors urged decisive action against Rwanda and an end to alleged collaboration with Western countries deemed complicit in the conflict.
In the heart of the capital city Kinshasa, hundreds of women took to the streets on Wednesday, pleading for an end to the persistent violence.
Adrien Zawadi, president of a local civil society organization, emphasized the urgent need for resolution, stating, “The years pass, the dead, the suffering, and the trauma multiply in this part of the country.”
Calls from demonstrators reverberated for the closure of borders with Rwanda and Uganda, both accused of supporting the rebel group. Additionally, protestors demanded the severing of ties with the United States, France, and Britain, alleging their involvement in aiding Rwanda.
The M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, predominantly comprises Tutsi fighters and has been actively engaged in Nord-Kivu for the past few years, with recent escalations of conflict around the provincial capital, Goma.
Despite accusations from Western governments and the United Nations, Rwanda denies any involvement in supporting the M23.