Heads of state from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are expected to hold a summit mediated by Angola in the coming days, according to the Angolan presidency, as protests and tensions between the neighbors mount.
Hundreds of people demonstrated against Rwanda on Wednesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, Kinshasa, and in Bukavu, AFP reported.
The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels who are battling government forces. Rwanda says the DRC is backing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, rebels in eastern DRC.
People walk along a road near Kibumba, north of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, as they flee fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in North Kivu, May 24, 2022.
On Tuesday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi met with Angolan president João Lourenço in Angola’s capital, Luanda, and agreed to release two Rwandan soldiers who had been captured, the Angolan presidency said. Lourenço also had a virtual meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
African Union chairman Macky Sall said over the weekend that he was “gravely concerned” about the situation, calling for “calm and dialogue.”
More than 100 rebel groups are active in the eastern DRC, where recent fighting has displaced entire communities.
At least 170,000 civilians have been displaced by violence since November last year, according to the United Nations.