Congo condemns Kenya’s Goma consul move as breach of international law

The Congolese government rejected Kenya’s appointment of a consul general in the conflict-torn city of Goma on Saturday, claiming a breach of international law and a lack of proper diplomatic procedures.

Goma, in eastern Congo, has been the site of a struggle between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which launched a lightning assault on the mineral-rich regional city in January. After many days of combat, the rebels took control of the city, and the Congolese army fled.

As required by international law and diplomatic protocol, Kenya did not communicate with the Congolese government in Kinshasa prior to making the declaration, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

M23, which is one of about a hundred groups fighting in eastern Congo, has attempted to establish a parallel government in the region, saying it is freeing the region from what it alleges is misrule by Kinshasa.

M23 has been accused of widespread abuses, and Congo’s government argued that that the way Kenya nominated the diplomat to the occupied city of Goma without informing the Congolese government could appear to legitimize the rebel group’s occupation.

Kenya’s announcement was made Friday as part of a raft of diplomatic appointments.

Congo’s foreign ministry called for “caution and discernment in public communication to avoid any misunderstanding, speculation, or the appearance of legitimization of the ongoing illegal occupation.”

Qatar has tried to mediate between the Congolese government and the rebel group, which led to the signing of a “declaration of principles” to end the decades-long fighting, but talks have since faltered and fighting has resumed.

The conflict has been a magnet for neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya, all of which have had troops on the grounds, complicating regional efforts to end the fighting.

Christian Moleka, a Congo-based political analyst, told The Associated Press that the appointment might have regional implications.

He said it could reinforce Kinshasa’s distrust of Kenya, which has been moving closer to Rwanda under President William Ruto, and weaken regional initiatives to establish peace.