Belgium on Wednesday warned its citizens against travelling to DR Congo, as Brussels Airlines scrapped flights to Kinshasa after violent protests erupted over the conflict rocking the east of the country.

“All travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently discouraged,” Belgium’s foreign ministry said.

“On 28 January, a violent protest took place in Kinshasa against, amongst others, the Belgian embassy. There have been announcements that protests may take place again in the coming days.”

The statement said that Belgian citizens currently in the DRC “can leave the country by their own means”.

The advice came after national carrier Brussels Airlines cancelled its Wednesday flights to and from Kinshasa.

The airline runs a Brussels-Kinshasa return service most days and later said it would resume flights on Friday.

“After an in-depth analysis, we have decided to resume flights to and from Kinshasa as of January 31, with a few additional safety measures,” the Belgian carrier said in a statement.

Protesters in Kinshasa, denouncing the “inaction” of the international community over the conflict, on Tuesday targeted the embassies of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, France, Belgium and the United States.

Supermarkets were also looted and piles of tyres burned during chaotic demonstrations in the capital.

France, the EU and Kenya condemned the embassy attacks.

Protesters accused Rwanda and Uganda of actively supporting the armed group M23 which after a lightning offensive in North Kivu province with the support of Rwandan troops entered the regional capital Goma on Sunday.

Former colonial ruler Belgium has close ties with the DRC and a large Congolese diaspora living in the country.