Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has canceled her scheduled concert in Kigali. The singer cancelled the show citing concerns over Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 armed group. The group has been seizing territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The decision comes amid growing international criticism of Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the conflict. The Rwandan government has denied any links to the rebel group.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Tems expressed regret over the cancellation, saying she was unaware of the situation when initially promoting the show.
The Kigali concert was part of her world tour in support of her 2024 debut album, Born in the Wild.
Meanwhile, Congolese forces have vowed to launch an offensive to push M23 rebels out of the region. The ongoing conflict has displaced more than 500,000 people since January, according to the UN refugee agency. Goma is the recent city which fell into the hands of the armed rebels. With further advancement planned into the capital Kinshasa.