Ambassadors of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Kenya and Tanzania were recalled for consultations on Saturday due to the launch in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, of a new military alliance, created by the DRC politicians and M23 rebels, who are instigating insecurity in eastern DRC, the country's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Alain Tshibanda, said on social media.
"Launch of a political-military coalition in Nairobi by a group of individuals including the former president of the [DRC Independent National Electoral Commission], Mr. Corneille Nangaa: Recall to Kinshasa for consultation with our Ambassadors accredited to Kenya and to Tanzania," Tshibanda said.
On Friday, Nangaa revealed the launch of the Congo River Alliance in Nairobi, which according to him, unite various Congolese armed groups, militias, including the M23 rebels, social and political organizations.
Nangaa reportedly said that he is "looking for a lasting solution; all communities must live together in Congo."
According to media reports, following the launch of the alliance, the DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Peter Kazadi Kankonde, organized an urgent meeting with the Chargé d'affaires of the Kenyan Embassy in the DRC. The meeting's goal was to express the concerns and indignation of the Central African nation regarding the support given by Kenya to Nangaa and certain M23 officials, the media said.
Kazadi also noted that Kenya should not violate the rules of the East African Community, of which both DRC and Kenya are members, which forbids attacks on each other as well as prohibits "maintaining armed bands which destabilize [the] respective countries," the outlet reported.
Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, in turn, stated that Kenya "strongly disassociates itself from any utterances or activities likely to injure the peace and security of the friendly Nation of DRC," reports said. He reportedly added that his country "has commenced investigation to determine the identities of the makers of the statement and the extent to which their utterances fall outside constitutionally protected speech."
The alliance was established ahead of the DRC presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 20. Among the candidates vying for the top job are the DRC incumbent leader, Felix Tshisekedi; Congolese businessman and politician, Moise Katumbi; the leader of the country's Engagement for Citizenship and Development party, Martin Fayulu.
The elections are to take place amid the heightened insecurity in the country's North Kivu province, caused by the M23 movement's activities. The UN has described the situation in the DRC as "one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world," with more than 6.1 million people displaced within the country and about one million forced to seek asylum across Africa.
Following the defeat in 2013, the rebel group, composed of members of the DRC's Tutsi ethnic minority, resumed fighting against the government in November 2021, accusing the DRC authorities of violating agreements to integrate disarmed M23 rebels into the army.