The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a deepening crisis as protests against the M23 rebel group's offensive in the eastern region have turned violent, with several foreign embassies vandalized and set on fire. The embassies of France, Belgium, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and the United States were among those targeted by angry protesters in Kinshasa, who accuse these countries of supporting Rwanda's alleged ties to the M23 group.

The protests, organized by a youth collective, aimed to "Paralyze the City" in response to the perceived inaction of the international community regarding the escalating conflict in Goma, a key city in North Kivu province. Congolese security forces have struggled to contain the advance of the M23 rebels, who claim to have captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo.

The situation has sparked widespread violence, including looting, casualties, and overwhelmed hospitals treating injured civilians. The protesters accused the targeted countries of supporting Rwanda's alleged ties to the M23 group, a claim Kigali denies. Rwanda's deputy government spokesman, Alain Mukuralinda, has dismissed allegations by the Democratic Republic of Congo's military that Rwanda supports the revived M23 rebel movement in eastern Congo, calling them baseless.

However, analysts estimate that up to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are actively supporting M23 operations in eastern Congo, raising questions about the true nature of Rwanda's involvement with the M23 rebel movement. The M23 group's spokesman, Willy Ngoma, and Manzi Ngarambe, representing the M23 diaspora, also deny any connection with the Rwandan government.

The international community has issued widespread condemnation of the violence, with the African Union, the United Nations, the United States, and China all calling for an end to the turmoil in the region. The African Union urged the M23 rebels to "lay down arms," but refrained from directly naming Rwanda. The African Union Peace and Security Council also called for the immediate withdrawal and disarmament of all rebel groups in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for an immediate ceasefire and urged all parties to respect the region's sovereign territorial integrity in a call with President Kagame on Tuesday. China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, also called on Rwanda to "stop military support" for the M23 rebels. The United Nations has voiced serious concerns about the escalating conflict, reporting ongoing gunfire and explosions throughout Goma.

The humanitarian situation in and around Goma remains extremely worrying, with reports of ethnically motivated lynching in a displaced persons site in Goma. The ongoing fighting threatens to reignite ethnic tensions harking back to the Rwandan genocide, according to peacekeepers. The crisis has sparked widespread international concern, with the global community calling for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.