Kenya ‘disassociates’ with DR Congo rebels alliance after diplomatic row

  

 

Kenya has provoked a diplomatic spat with Kinshasa by "strongly distancing" itself from a Congolese opposition leader who formed an alliance with rebels in Nairobi.

Following the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) ambassador's recall in protest, Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that it will look into the political-military partnership.

 

The M23 rebels, who have taken over territory in eastern DRC, and Corneille Nangaa, the former head of the DRC election commission, are among the organizations and politicians who make up the so-called Congo River Alliance, which was formed on Friday.

 

In reaction to the event, the Democratic Republic of Congo summoned its ambassadors to Kenya and Tanzania on Saturday to hold discussions. Because Tanzania is home to the East African Community bloc headquarters, which the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a member of, the envoy there was called back.

 

Kenya was aware that certain citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had addressed the media in Kenya and made remarks that were "inimical to the constitutional order of the Democratic Republic of the Congo," according to a statement released by Kenya's foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi.

 

He declared, "Kenya has launched an investigation and firmly distances itself from any statements or actions likely to jeopardize the peace and security of the friendly nation of DRC."

 

"To determine the identities of the makers of the statement and the extent to which their utterances fall outside constitutionally protected speech" is the goal of the investigation, the minister added.