Congolese protest against West, Rwanda in eastern city of Goma

The DRC, the UN and Western countries say Rwanda is supporting rebels in DRC in a bid to control vast mineral resources.

Anti-Rwanda demonstrators burned Western countries’ flags on Monday in the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, accusing them of supporting Kigali through the M23 rebels.

Fighting between the mostly Tutsi M23 rebellion and Congolese government forces has flared in recent days around the town of Sake, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Goma in North Kivu province.

The DRC, the United Nations and Western countries say Rwanda is supporting the rebels in a bid to control vast mineral resources, an allegation Kigali denies.

Several dozen demonstrators, some draped in the DRC flag with red bands around their heads, trampled on the flags of the United States, the European Union, France and Poland.

“We are in the street to denounce the crimes of which the Congolese are victims,” said Espoir Mwinuka, an activist with the Lucha (Struggle for Change) movement. “Rwanda kills us every day and is supported by the international community, which is why we burned these flags.”