Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi distanced the government on Sunday from a Congolese opposition figure who forged an alliance with rebel groups while in Nairobi, setting off a diplomatic spat with Kinshasa.
Corneille Nangaa, the former head of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission, announced the alliance with the M23 rebel group and others at a hotel in the Kenyan capital last Friday.
His move sparked outrage in Kinshasa, with the Congolese government threatening “consequences” for Kenya’s perceived involvement.
“Kenya strongly disassociates itself from any utterances or activities likely to injure the peace and security of the friendly Nation of DRC,” Mudavadi declared in a statement, adding that Kenya has launched an investigation to assess the situation.
While emphasizing Kenya’s commitment to freedom of speech, Mudavadi clarified that Kenya would not tolerate actions that jeopardize regional stability.
President William Ruto echoed this sentiment, rejecting calls from Kinshasa to arrest Nangaa.
“We don’t arrest people who have made a statement, we arrest criminals,” Ruto stated, emphasizing that anyone involved in unlawful activities would be dealt with accordingly.
Nangaa, who oversaw the controversial 2018 elections in the DRC, claims his “national unity and stability” alliance comprises nine armed groups, including the M23.
His announcement comes amid heightened political and security tensions in the DRC as the country prepares for presidential elections in December 2024.
Relations between Nangaa and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi have soured recently, with Nangaa criticizing the government’s “weakness” in restoring authority across the country.
The Congolese government, however, condemned Nangaa’s alliance as “unpatriotic” and accused Kenya of harboring subversive activities.
“Kenya owes us an explanation,” declared Congolese Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya. Kinshasa promptly summoned the Kenyan ambassador and recalled its own envoys from Nairobi for consultations.
The incident adds another layer of complexity to the volatile situation in eastern DRC, where millions remain internally displaced due to ongoing armed conflicts and insecurity.
The M23, which resurfaced in late 2021 after years of dormancy, controls significant portions of North Kivu province.
Western nations and the United Nations accuse neighboring Rwanda of backing the rebel group, an allegation Kigali vehemently denies.
The diplomatic fallout between Kenya and the DRC underscores the fragility of regional stability in Central Africa.
Both sides now face the delicate task of navigating the path towards reconciliation while addressing underlying political and security concerns.