Protesters Tear-Gassed As They Target Embassies In DR Congo

Riot police are cracking down on a small number of protesters who are sporadically grouping outside foreign embassies in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.

The demonstrators accuse Western diplomats of being accomplices to Rwanda, which they accuse of backing the M23 rebel group that is destabilising the east of DR Congo.

Rwanda has consistently denied the allegation.

Dozens of police officers are standing guard outside the UK, US and French embassies.

International schools and shops run by foreign nationals have remained closed this morning in the Gombe district of Kinshasa for fear of being targeted by protesters.

A handful of protesters are roaming the area and burning car tyres, and the American and Belgian flags.

At a meeting with affected parties on Sunday, DR Congo’s Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula promised to keep UN peacekeepers, Western diplomats and Western embassies safe.

Close to seven million people have been internally displaced by violence in the North Kivu province where M23 rebels are active.

In the last fortnight alone, more than 100,000 people have had to flee their homes because of renewed fighting between Congolese government forces and the M23.

BBC/Jide Johnson.