DRC Rejects Ruto's Newly Nominated Envoy to Rebel-Led Goma Region
- President William Ruto's pick of a consul general in Goma has been met with a vehement objection from the DRC government
- Through an official dispatch from the State House, Nairobi, Ruto proposed Judy Kiaria to head the consular services in the Eastern DRC locality
- In its objection, Kinshasa argued that it was not consulted before the nomination was made, insisting on its sovereignty
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has disapproved of President William Ruto's designation of a new consul general in Goma.
Source: Twitter
Ruto had on Friday, August 15, nominated Judy Kiaria as the consul general to rebel rebel-stricken region in the eastern parts of the DRC.
Why DRC rejected Ruto's pick for consul general
In an official communique, the DRC's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, lamented that the Kenyan president did not seek the opinion of Kinshasa while making the nomination.
With the volatility in Goma, Kenya ought to have engaged the DRC government before appointing its consul general.
Kinshasa asked the Kenyan government to consult prior to any designation aimed at Goma.
"The DRC reiterates that, in accordance with international law and established diplomatic procedures—particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963—the appointment of a consular head requires the prior consent of Congolese authorities and the issuance of an exequatur by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa, therefore, expects to be officially approached by Nairobi through established diplomatic channels and will respond exclusively through those same channels, in accordance with the principles of courtesy and mutual respect," Wagner said in her French statement.
Ruto's nomination, therefore, remains null and void until the stipulated diplomatic procedures are met, the DRC minister said, insisting on the sovereignty of her country.
Kinshasa said it was ready to engage Kenya in settling the standoff.
"Any announcement regarding the appointment of a consul in Goma is particularly inappropriate and cannot be considered without the approval of Congolese authorities. The DRC, therefore, calls for caution and discernment in public communications to avoid misunderstandings, speculation, or any appearance of legitimising the ongoing illegal occupation," the minister added.
Adding that;
"Based on mutual respect and adherence to established international law, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its sovereignty and remains committed to constructive bilateral relations with the Republic of Kenya, as well as to regional cooperation within the East African Community,"
Details of Mudavadi's phone call with DRC minister
Meanwhile, Wagner had a phone conversation with her Kenyan counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi.
Whilst the gist of their engagement was the strengthening of the bilateral ties between Nairobi and the DRC, Kinshasa reiterated its position on having its sovereignty respected.
Therefore, the issue of the Goma consul general would not be negotiated outside the set terms.
"The Minister of State discussed with Kenya's Musalia Mudavadi the state of bilateral relations and the need to strengthen them. She reiterated the DRC's position regarding the proposal for a Consul in Goma, emphasising respect for established diplomatic procedures," the minister's official account on X said.
The DRC has been taking hot and cold on its relations with Nairobi, often seeming to lean toward the southern African.
Is DRC committed to EAC?
The country joined the East African Community (EAC), but its commitment to the bloc declined over time.
An instance was drawn from an EAC virtual extraordinary meeting Ruto chaired earlier this year to deliberate on the crisis in Eastern DRC.
Source: Twitter
In his capacity as the EAC chairperson, the president brought together his colleagues from Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
The DRC, whose crisis the leaders were deliberating on, was not represented.
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame was concerned by this.
Kagame criticised DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi, accusing him of undermining the EAC despite its progress toward a ceasefire in the eastern parts of the country where the M23 rebels have established authority.
Kagame expressed disappointment over Tshisekedi’s decision to seek intervention from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), sidelining the EAC’s ongoing efforts
While Tshisekedi opted out of the EAC’s virtual summit, he participated in the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare, Zimbabwe, both held around the same time.
The broadside between Kagame and Tshisekedi has compounded the crisis.
The two leaders have remained at odds, each alleging that the other is financially supporting the M23 rebel group.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
