The development comes hours after Kenya’s President William Ruto appointed Ms. Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Consul General for Goma without formally informing Kinshasa as diplomatic practice requires.

In a statement this Saturday, DRC stressed that, in line with international law and established diplomatic procedures — notably the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963 — “the designation of a head of consular post requires the prior agreement of the Congolese authorities and the issuance of an exequatur by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

The DRC also pointed out that “the city of Goma, located in the mining province of North Kivu, remains under the illegal occupation of the M23/AFC, with the support of Rwanda,” a situation marked by “serious violations of human rights against civilians, including women and minors, as extensively documented by the recent report of the United Nations Group of Experts as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).” 

Against this backdrop, it said, “any announcement relating to the appointment of a consul in Goma is particularly inappropriate and cannot be considered without the approval of the Congolese authorities.”

Calling for caution, DRC urged “prudence and discernment in public communication, in order to avoid any misunderstanding, speculation or appearance of legitimisation of the ongoing illegal occupation.”

The warning came hours after Minister of State Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, where she reiterated the DRC’s position on the Goma posting.

This latest dispute follows a series of incidents that have strained bilateral relations in recent years. In late 2023, Kinshasa accused Nairobi of giving political space to Congolese opposition figures critical of President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. 

Around the same period, Congolese officials claimed that Kenya’s financial system had been used for transactions linked to M23 rebel networks — allegations Kenya denied. 

Relations were further tested by the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from the East African Community (EAC) Regional Force after disagreements over the mission’s mandate and accusations from Kinshasa that the force was too lenient towards M23 positions.

Analysts warn that President William Ruto’s decision to appoint Ms. Nkumiri risks compounding these tensions, with some describing it as “an implicit recognition of the authority of M23 rebels in an occupied zone” and “a blow to regional mediation efforts, particularly the Nairobi Process,” which has already faced accusations of bias against the Kenyan leader.