On Friday, February 14, 2025, Congolese citizens residing in South Korea gathered to stage a peaceful protest at the embassies of the United States and the European Union in Seoul. This demonstration was organized to denounce the international community’s perceived complicity in the ongoing atrocities committed by Rwanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as documented in numerous UN reports. The protest aimed to raise awareness about a humanitarian crisis that has claimed over 10 million lives, displaced approximately 7 million people in the past three years alone, and left countless women widowed and children orphaned.

The protest began at 9:30 a.m., with participants assembling near Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 3, just 100 meters from the U.S. Embassy. Holding banners and chanting slogans for peace and justice, the demonstrators marched in unity, first to the U.S. Embassy and then, at 10:09 a.m., to the European Union Embassy near Seoul Station. The community exhibited remarkable discipline, determination, and solidarity throughout the event.

At the U.S. Embassy, representatives of the Congolese community handed over a memorandum addressed to His Excellency, the Ambassador of the United States in South Korea. The document strongly condemned the international community’s inaction in the face of Rwanda’s aggression in eastern Congo.

The memorandum outlined the following key concerns:

• Systematic Violence and Massacres: The ongoing targeting and killing of Congolese civilians.
• Illegal Mineral Exploitation: The plundering of strategic minerals such as coltan, gold, and 3T minerals, essential to global technology.
• Ineffectiveness of MONUSCO: The failure of the UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians and restore peace despite decades of presence.
• Contradictions in U.S. Policy: The inconsistency between the U.S.’s condemnation of Rwanda’s actions and the absence of meaningful sanctions against its leaders.

The memorandum concluded with a series of demands:

• Immediate cessation of hostilities.
• Withdrawal of Rwandan troops and M23 rebels from Congolese territory.
• An arms embargo on Rwanda.
• Termination of all foreign aid and military support to Rwanda.
• Issuance of international arrest warrants for those orchestrating the atrocities.
• Sanctioning and stoppage buying of stolen Congolese’s solid mineral from Rwanda.

The protesters then proceeded to the European Union Embassy, where a similar memorandum was delivered. It called on the EU to assume its responsibility in halting the humanitarian catastrophe in the DRC and condemned its contradictory stance—publicly denouncing Rwanda while maintaining military ties, financial and trade of stolen Congolese solid minerals.

The memorandum emphasized the following actions:

• Sanction individuals and entities involved in the exploitation of blood minerals.
• Press Rwanda to cease its military and economic support for the M23 rebel group.
• Revise international policies to prioritize peace, human rights, and justice over economic and geopolitical interests.

Following the demonstrations at the U.S. and EU embassies, the Congolese delegation visited the Rwandan Embassy. There, the protesters delivered a clear and firm message, urging Rwandan authorities to end their aggression against innocent Congolese civilians. This visit symbolized the community’s resolute stance against Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict.

Throughout the day, various speakers shared heartfelt testimonies about the devastating impacts of the war on their families and communities using the 4 DR Congo’s national languages (Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, and Tshiluba), French, English, and even Korean. Their speeches resonated with attendees, fostering a sense of unity and determination to keep advocating for justice and peace.

The February 14, 2025, protest marked a significant moment for the Congolese community in South Korea. Through their peaceful demonstration, they voiced a collective demand for justice, accountability, and immediate international action. The memoranda delivered to the EU and U.S. embassies underscored their unwavering resolve to seek an end to the violence in the DRC. The event concluded peacefully, leaving participants hopeful that their message would inspire concrete steps toward lasting peace and stability in their homeland.