Popular Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems has announced the cancellation of her upcoming concert in Kigali over Rwanda’s support of the M23 armed group waging an offensive in eastern DR Congo.
The announcement came amid international condemnation of Rwanda’s backing of the M23 group, which seized control of the city of Goma this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich east.
Grammy award-winning singer, revealed in a post on X that she was cancelling a concert at BK Arena in the Rwandan capital on March 22.
“So I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realising that there is ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo,” she wrote.
“I never ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologize if this came across that way,” said Tems, who became the first Nigerian singer to win a Grammy in 2023.
“I simply had no idea this was going on. My heart goes out to those affected.”
The post came hours after M23 leaders vowed to “continue the march of liberation all the way” to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa.
Both countries have a history of conflict that dates back to 1996.
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January, however, opened up a new spate of conflict between both East African countries.
The DRC cut off relations with Rwanda following its invasion of Goma by rebels who were reportedly backed by the Rwandan Government, which led to the displacement of 400,000 people.
DR Congo has accused Rwanda of waging an offensive to profit from the region’s mineral wealth. A report by UN experts in July supported these claims, finding that Rwanda has thousands of troops in eastern DR Congo — and holds “de facto control” over the M23.
Rwanda has denied the accusations.
President Paul Kagame has never admitted military involvement but has maintained the fighting cannot end until a DRC-based armed group, the FDLR, created by former Hutu leaders who massacred Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is eliminated.
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Tems’ withdrawal follows a growing global outcry against Rwanda’s alleged military involvement in DRC, with the United Kingdom announcing on Thursday that it may review its financial aid to Rwanda over the situation.
Reports from the United Nations have also backed claims that thousands of Rwandan troops are present in eastern Congo, effectively controlling the M23 rebels, despite Rwanda’s repeated denials.
The Congolese government has long accused Rwanda of fuelling the conflict to gain access to the region’s vast deposits of gold, coltan, and other valuable minerals.
A UN expert report published in July 2023 supported this claim, stating that Rwanda has “de facto control” over M23 operations.
