Kenya has responded after the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rejected the appointment of Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Kenya’s new Consul General to Goma — a move that has stirred diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
President William Ruto recently reshuffled Kenya’s diplomatic team and named Ms. Nkumiri as the new Consul General in Goma, a city currently under the control of the M23 rebel group.
However, in a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, the Congolese government reminded Nairobi that such appointments must first be approved by the host country and an exequatur issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Quoting the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Kinshasa stated that only DRC authorities can authorize the appointment of foreign consuls on its territory.
The DRC warned that announcing a consul for Goma without proper approval risked conferring legitimacy on what it called an illegal occupation by M23 rebels, who are considered a terrorist group by the Congolese government.
“Any announcement regarding the appointment of a consul in Goma is particularly inappropriate and should not be considered without the approval of the Congolese authorities,” the DRC statement said.
The statement also cautioned against causing confusion or giving the impression that the rebel-held region is being treated as an official diplomatic zone.
The issue has further strained relations between the two countries, especially as Goma is located in conflict-ridden North Kivu, a region heavily affected by fighting between the Congolese army and M23 fighters.
Kenya Responds
In a response issued on Monday, August 18, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi acknowledged the DRC’s reaction but clarified that Kenya’s nomination is still at an early stage.
He explained that naming a consul does not mean the diplomat has been deployed. According to diplomatic procedure, the nominee must first be approved by Kenya’s Parliament, after which Kenya will formally request approval (Agrément) from the host country.
“For Goma, the process will further require issuance of an exequatur or authorization by the Government of DRC before Kenya’s Consul-General may assume official duties,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi emphasized that President Ruto has the constitutional mandate to nominate ambassadors and consular officials, but deployment cannot proceed without consent from the host country.
He added that the reshuffle in Kenya’s foreign service is part of the government’s plan to improve service delivery and support its Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), not to interfere in DRC politics or undermine regional peace efforts.
Mudavadi also confirmed that he had spoken to his Congolese counterpart, Ms. Thérèse Wagner, to clarify the matter and reaffirm Kenya’s respect for DRC’s sovereignty.
Kenya and the DRC have enjoyed diplomatic ties since the 1960s. Kenya opened its embassy in Kinshasa in 1968, and DRC has maintained a consulate in Mombasa since 2023. Kenya established its Consulate General in Goma in March 2022. Several African and international countries also maintain diplomatic offices in Goma to facilitate trade and cooperation.
“Kenya remains committed to peace and regional stability in the DRC and will continue working closely with the East African Community, SADC, and the African Union on peace initiatives,” Mudavadi added.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to respecting the DRC’s sovereignty, noting that both countries are strategic partners in trade, security, and regional integration.
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