Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Tems has announced the cancellation of her upcoming concert in Kigali, citing concerns over Rwanda’s support for the M23 armed group currently waging an offensive in eastern DR Congo.
The decision comes amid growing international criticism of Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23 rebels, who this week seized control of Goma, a key city in DR Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region.
Tems, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, shared the news on X, revealing that her performance at BK Arena in Kigali, scheduled for March 22, had been called off.
“I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realizing the ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo,” she wrote. “I never intend to be insensitive to real-world issues, and I sincerely apologize if it came across that way. I simply had no idea this was happening. My heart goes out to those affected.”
DR Congo has long accused Rwanda of fueling conflict in the region to exploit its vast mineral wealth, a claim supported by a July report from UN experts, which found that Rwanda has deployed thousands of troops in eastern DR Congo and maintains “de facto control” over M23.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied these allegations. President Paul Kagame has not acknowledged direct military involvement but insists that the conflict cannot be resolved until the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) — a rebel group formed by Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi — is dismantled.
