Thousands march in Paris demanding an end to violence in DRC and sanctions Against Kagame

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Lagos, Nigeria – Around 1,500 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris over the weekend in a protest against the ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Organized by the group ‘Urgence Pona Mboka’, the march was a call for international intervention and accountability for those fueling the conflict in the region.

AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com 

Waving Congolese flags and holding signs reading “Stop the War”, “Our Wealth, Our Right”, and “Justice for the DRC”, protesters voiced frustration over the escalating violence and the international community’s lack of decisive action.

The demonstration comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Gilcy, one of the protesters, expressed the growing frustration of many:

“We are here because we are fed up with what is happening in eastern DRC. This conflict has lasted for 30 years, and millions have suffered because of it. What we demand from the international community is severe sanctions on Paul Kagame’s regime so that this tragedy can finally come to an end.”

The Paris protest follows renewed violence in North Kivu, a mineral-rich region plagued by decades of instability. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a group that has resumed military operations in recent years, displacing thousands and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Kigali denies any direct involvement, but UN reports have presented evidence of Rwandan military support for the insurgents.

Many demonstrators condemned what they see as the deliberate silence of the international community, suggesting that the lack of action is linked to foreign interest in the DRC’s vast mineral wealth, including coltan, gold, and diamonds.

The Paris march is part of a broader movement by the Congolese diaspora, with similar protests held in Brussels, London, and Washington, urging governments and international organizations to take a firmer stance on the conflict.

So far, neither the European Union nor the United Nations has issued new statements regarding the protest or the calls for sanctions against Rwanda. Meanwhile, violence in eastern DRC continues to displace thousands, deepening one of Africa’s longest-running humanitarian crises.