China rarely criticises or takes sides in African conflicts, but recent insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has shown a measured shift in Beijing’s approach.
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So far this year, on at least two occasions, Beijing – through its UN ambassador, Fu Cong – has directly asked Kigali to end its backing of the M23 rebel group and pull Rwandan troops out of the DRC.
“China reiterates its hope that Rwanda will heed the call of the international community, stop its military support for M23, and immediately withdraw all its military forces from the DRC territory,” Fu said in February.
China also voted in favour of a UN Security Council resolution that unanimously condemned Rwanda’s role in the conflict. This is a departure from the norm: China mostly abstains in resolutions that involve conflicts between its key allies.
But while it is a deviation from its usual non-interference policy, it is not a large one, according to observers, as Beijing works to protect its mining interests and relationships with both countries.
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Beginning in 2022, the crisis in eastern DRC is rooted in ethnic tensions and a struggle over the control of mineral resources. So far, thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. M23 rebels have also seized vital towns in the DRC, including Bukavu and Goma, both near the Rwandan border, and both home to many Chinese-run gold mines.
