Nigerian singer Tems has cancelled her upcoming concert in Kigali, Rwanda, which was scheduled for 22 March at the BK Arena. She says she made this decision upon learning about the ongoing conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has witnessed an escalation between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and the Congolese military. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced since M23’s resurgence in 2021.
Tems said she had previously been unaware of the situation and said sorry: “I never ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologise if this came across that way.” She extended her heartfelt wishes to those affected, emphasising that “conflict is no joke.”
A primary driver of the conflict is Congolese minerals. M23 have been used as a proxy to acquire crucial resources, including gold and coltan. Rwanda has provided the rebels with training and material. According to the UN, up to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are fighting alongside M23 in Congo.
Sources
https://x.com/temsbaby/status/1885009308527505832
Escalation
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgyzl1mlkvo
Rwanda backs M23
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgyzl1mlkvo
4,000 Rwandan soldiers alongside M23
https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Resurgence-of-the-M23-EN.pdf