A march to demand sanctions against Rwanda is set to take in Brussels on Sunday. This is part of a series of demonstrations organised by the Free Congo Belgium collective.
The collective wants to see concrete and immediate sanctions as a response to Rwanda's support of the M23 rebels, who escalated violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in late January.
The demonstration on Sunday will start at 14:00 at Place du Trône and end at Place du Luxembourg in the European Quarter. The international solidarity collective 11.11.11., will also participate in Sunday's demonstration. "Given this critical situation, we call on citizens to take to the streets en masse and demand immediate action from the Belgian and European authorities," the NGO wrote in a press release.
A sit-in will take place next Monday on Rue Archimède, between 12:00 and 14:00. A second will take place on 7 March, at the same time, in front of the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
"While the European Union has adopted drastic economic and political sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, it continues to maintain economic and diplomatic relations with Rwanda, despite the central role of this country in the aggression of the Democratic Republic of the Congo," stated Free Congo Belgium.
The citizens' collective is therefore calling for the same principles of "justice and consistency". Free Congo is calling for the EU to end its Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda. It also demands the suspension of all financial aid to Rwanda as long as the country continues to fund armed groups in the DRC.
Additionally, the collective urges the EU to impose individual sanctions on senior Rwandan officials involved in the aggression in the DRC, to demand the immediate withdrawal of M23 from the DRC, and to increase its humanitarian aid for Congolese victims.
The 11.11.11. further calls for "an immediate and unconditional cessation of the war through intensified political and diplomatic actions."
Founded in October 2024, Free Congo Belgium brings together citizens and associations involved in the struggle for the liberation of the DRC. The collective aims to support and amplify any initiative denouncing "exploitation, interference, and violence perpetrated in the DRC." Free Congo also exists in Germany.
11.11.11 is a coalition for international solidarity that brings together around 60 NGOs, unions, and solidarity movements and groups.
