# 2025 Kinshasa riots

The 2025 Kinshasa riots are a series of violent demonstrations that occurred on January 28, 2025 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Multiple foreign diplomatic missions, including the embassies of the United States, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, became targets of civil unrest as protesters expressed their opposition to perceived international inaction regarding M23 rebel advances in eastern DRC.

## Background

A conflict began between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in 2022 after Rwandan forces entered the country to provide military support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, including fighting alongside them against the Congolese military (FARDC) and pro-government militias.
Since the Second Congo War the eastern provinces of the DRC have been the site of an ongoing insurgency by various rebel groups, most notably the March 23 Movement (M23) in North Kivu and its affiliate in South Kivu, and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Ituri and North Kivu. The current stage of the conflict is related to an ongoing campaign that began in March 2022 by the M23 Movement, which the DRC, United Nations, United States, and other Western countries accuse Rwanda of not only supporting but actively fighting for. Rwanda and M23 have also accused the DRC of working together with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an ethnic Hutu paramilitary group that took part in the Rwandan Genocide. Both the Congo and Rwanda deny they support the FDLR and M23, respectively, contrary to research and reports that confirm both sides' allegations.
Burundi, which has accused Rwanda of orchestrating a 2015 coup attempt, deployed troops to assist the DRC against the M23 offensive. The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission has maintained that it is not involved in the conflict apart from its role in defending the region from militants, but has been accused by Rwanda of taking sides due to its cooperation with the Congolese armed forces. Meanwhile, the Congolese government has asked MONUSCO peacekeepers to leave the DRC due to a "failure to protect civilians from armed groups."
There were two efforts at peace negotiations organized between the DRC and Rwanda: one hosted by Kenya in 2022, which failed, and another hosted by Angola in 2024, the latter leading to a ceasefire agreement in August. Fighting between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels resumed in October 2024 after having slowed down, and intensified towards the end of the year. Planned negotiations between Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi in December were cancelled over disagreements about preconditions.

## Protests and riots

The advancement of M23 forces into Goma, the capital of North Kivu and a major regional hub with a population of two million, sparked intense public anger in Kinshasa, particularly directed at nations perceived as failing to intervene in the conflict. Protests conducted on highlighted growing tensions over the international community's response to the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, with demonstrators specifically calling for increased pressure on Rwanda regarding its alleged support of the M23 rebels. Anger was expressed towards European and neighboring African nations' perceived hypocrisy in demanding peace while continuing to diplomatically support Rwanda, with several protesters calling them complicit in the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
During the demonstrations, protesters targeted multiple diplomatic facilities in Kinshasa. The most significant damage occurred at the embassies of France, Rwanda, and Belgium, where demonstrators engaged in acts of vandalism and arson, setting fires to portions of the diplomatic compounds. The Kenyan and Ugandan diplomatic missions were also targeted during the unrest. Protesters burned tires in the streets and engaged in direct confrontations with security forces. In a security alert, the U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that large crowds were throwing rocks, attacking vehicles, setting up roadblocks, and setting small fires amid the unrest.
In addition, local markets and supermarkets were looted across the city.

## Response

Law enforcement responded to the situation by deploying tear gas and firing warning shots to disperse the crowds. The DRC's Minister of Communications Patrick Muyaya Katembwe addressed the situation on national television, calling for peaceful demonstrations and urging protesters to respect diplomatic infrastructure.
The US Embassy issued guidance to its citizens, recommending they shelter in place before seeking safe departure from the country while commercial travel options remained available. The embassy specifically warned about potential roadblocks and protests affecting routes to airports.

## Reactions

The European Union issued a formal condemnation of the embassy attacks, with a spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas emphasizing the necessity of protecting diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noël Barrot specifically addressed the attack on France's embassy, declaring the actions "unacceptable" and assuring that measures were being implemented to protect diplomatic personnel and citizens.
Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi issued a statement expressing deep concern over the attacks on their embassy offices and personnel, characterizing the incidents as grave violations of international law.