Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has cancelled her upcoming concert in Kigali, Rwanda, citing the country’s support for the M23 rebel group, which is leading a violent offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The singer, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, was set to perform at BK Arena in Kigali on March 22. However, she took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to announce the cancellation, expressing regret over the situation.
“I recently promoted my show in Rwanda without realising that there is an ongoing conflict between Rwanda and Congo,” she wrote.
“I genuinely apologise if this came across as insensitive to real-world issues. I just didn’t know this was happening. My thoughts are with those impacted.”
Her decision comes amid global condemnation of Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict. The M23 militia, which seized control of parts of eastern DRC this week, has vowed to push further towards the country’s capital, Kinshasa.
The UK government also announced on Thursday that it was considering reassessing aid to Rwanda over its role in the conflict. The DRC has repeatedly accused Rwanda of seeking to exploit the mineral-rich region, with a UN report in July stating that Rwanda had thousands of troops in eastern Congo and exercised “de facto control” over M23 operations.
Tems’ cancellation adds to the growing international spotlight on the crisis, as pressure mounts on Rwanda to withdraw its support for the rebels.
