Washington: Rwandan Official’s Bodyguard Confronted by Congolese Security
The Embassy of Rwanda in the United States has confirmed a brief security incident involving its personnel and members of the delegation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at a hotel in Washington, D.C..
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the embassy said a Rwandan security officer assigned to protect a high-ranking official encountered Congolese security personnel in a shared hotel corridor, where both delegations were staying.
According to the embassy, the Rwandan officer—who was unarmed—was briefly prevented from accessing an elevator by members of the Congolese security team.
Kigali described the incident as “unnecessary and inappropriate behavior in a public space,” noting, however, that the situation was quickly resolved without further escalation.
The embassy added that, following the encounter, the Rwandan delegation decided to relocate to another hotel. It further alleged that as they were leaving, individuals engaged in what it described as harassment, including filming and obstructing members of the delegation.
Despite what it termed “provocation,” the embassy said the Rwandan team acted with restraint and avoided any actions that could inflame tensions.
The statement comes a day after the DRC government, through its spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, alleged that unidentified individuals had attempted to infiltrate a hotel where First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi was staying in Washington. Muyaya suggested possible Rwandan involvement, a claim Kigali has strongly denied.
Rwanda criticized the Congolese government’s account of events, accusing officials of spreading misinformation. It described the allegations made by Muyaya during a press briefing as “shameful” and called for them to be dismissed.
