Over the weekend, nearly 1,500 demonstrators gathered in Paris to show solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), urging an end to the ongoing violence in the country’s eastern region. The march, organized by the advocacy group Urgence Pona Mboka, aimed to push for international intervention and accountability for those perpetuating the conflict.
Waving Congolese flags and carrying signs with messages like “Stop the War,” “Our Wealth, Our Right,” and “Justice for the DRC,” protesters voiced frustration over the prolonged crisis and the international community’s inaction.
Expressing the collective anger, one protester, Gilcy, stated:
“We are here because we are tired of what is happening in eastern DRC. This conflict has lasted for 30 years, causing immense suffering. We demand that the international community impose tough sanctions on Paul Kagame’s regime to end this crisis once and for all.”
A representative from Urgence Pona Mboka also addressed the crowd, emphasizing unity and resilience:
“We, the Congolese people, are rising up. We refuse to be discouraged or intimidated. The international community—France, Belgium, the UK, the US—continues to turn against us, but today, we are standing our ground and saying no.”
With the violence persisting in eastern DRC, protesters are urging world leaders to take decisive action before the situation deteriorates further.