The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has strongly opposed Kenya’s decision to appoint a representative in the city of Goma, located in North Kivu Province.
On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Office of the President of Kenya released a list of newly designated envoys to represent the country in different parts of the world. Among them was an appointee for Goma, a city currently under the control of the armed group AFC/M23, which is fighting against the Congolese government.
This announcement sparked discontent in Kinshasa. In a statement released on Saturday, August 16, 2025, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official X account, the Congolese government expressed its disapproval. The statement stressed that the appointment of foreign representatives must follow “international law and diplomatic conventions,” specifically referencing the Vienna Convention of April 24, 1963.
“Before appointing a representative, approval must first be obtained from the Congolese authorities, followed by the granting of an exequatur by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement read. It further noted that appointing a Kenyan envoy to Goma a resource-rich region without consultation with Congolese authorities is both inappropriate and unacceptable.
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The Congolese government reiterated that the region is occupied by AFC/M23, a rebel movement it accuses of being supported by Rwanda allegations Rwanda consistently denies. The statement also highlighted ongoing atrocities in the area, including “serious human rights violations, particularly against civilians, women, and children,” as documented by UN experts and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner confirmed on X that she had summoned Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, to convey Kinshasa’s firm position regarding the matter.
This is not the first time DRC has expressed displeasure with Nairobi over the issue of M23. Two years ago, then–Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula warned that Kenya could “face consequences” for legitimizing the rebel movement. That warning followed a Nairobi meeting between Corneille Nanga and Bertrand Bisimwa, leader of M23, which aimed to launch the “Alliance Fleuve Congo” (AFC) platform.
In response at the time, Kenyan President William Ruto defended his country’s democratic values, saying: “Kenya is a democracy. No government can prevent citizens from expressing their views. If someone commits a crime abroad, we will prosecute them. But if someone simply issues a statement? Every day people publish statements against the government that is what true democracy is about.”
Following that episode, the DRC had recalled its ambassador from Nairobi, and there were even discussions about expelling Kenya’s ambassador in Kinshasa, though such measures were never carried out.
President Ruto added: “If they decide to expel our ambassador because of a statement issued in Nairobi, that is within their rights. But I will not imprison anyone merely for publishing a statement. That would contradict democratic principles.”
