A group of pro-Congolese demonstrators protested outside the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg's embassy in Brussels on Friday afternoon.
Protestors were demanding the immediate withdrawal of Luxembourg's veto against additional European Union sanctions on Rwanda, which supports the M-23 rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The protestors, from the organisation 'Free Congo,' also fear that potential European sanctions against Rwanda may no longer be discussed at the European level and are committed to maintaining pressure to ensure it remains on the agenda.
The next meeting of the European Council of Foreign Ministers is scheduled for 17 March, and they demand that the issue be raised then.
They also call for the immediate cessation of the European Union's agreement with Rwanda regarding mineral exploitation and the imposition of personal sanctions against Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The protesters insist Kagame should be placed under an international arrest warrant.
Furthermore, they urge the European Union to take action to end the occupation of Eastern Congo by M-23 rebels and stop the violence perpetrated by the group.
Protester Maddy Tiembe stated, "These Rwanda-supported M-23 troops must leave Congo immediately. The mass killings must end. Paul Kagame is a murderer, as all international reports indicate. It is his troops active in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Enough is enough."
Tiembe described the situation as "typical capitalism," saying, "They don't even care if people are being killed. All Rwanda and Europe want are the Congolese resources."
She added that Belgium has been forceful enough in pressing the European table to address the situation in Congo, but urged Belgium to keep up the pressure.
The 98th edition of the UCI Road World Championships is set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 21 to 28 September 2025.
Tiembe called this event a clear example of 'sportswashing,' asserting, "With this event, they want to portray murderous Rwanda as a good country where nothing is wrong, but Rwanda is killing people in Congo." She demands the world championships in Rwanda be cancelled.
