By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Congo summoned its ambassador to Kenya for “consultation” on Saturday after a new Congolese political-military alliance, that includes rebels, was launched in the Kenyan capital.
John Nyakeru was summoned to “provide explanations to the Deputy Prime Minister Peter Kazadi on the launch in Nairobi of a political-military coalition,” Congo's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alain Tshibanda wrote on X.
Also summoned was Congo’s East African Community (EAC) bloc Ambassador Jean Pierre Masala, who is based in Tanzania.
The announcement came after Corneille Nangaa, former head of the Congo's electoral body, announced Friday in Nairobi that nine Congolese rebel groups, including the M23, had united to restore peace and formed the Congo River Alliance (AFC).
Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya condemned Kenya for hosting “a destructive alliance” and warned that “it will impact diplomatic relations.”
Since 2022, Kenya has hosted several rounds of talks on peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo facilitated by the East Africa regional bloc, with representatives of major rebel groups.
Bintou Keita, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), said she was “extremely concerned by the creation of a new political-military platform.”
“I call on all political actors to operate within the framework of the Constitution and to respect human rights and the rule of law,” she wrote on X.
For nearly three decades, the eastern part of Congo has been reeling with insecurity posed by several armed groups, with thousands of residents living in camps in the two most conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
The new coalition was announced ahead of general elections in Congo scheduled for Dec. 20.
Bintou urged the new alliance to renounce any act of violence likely to destabilize Congo.
“I also call on M23 to respect the terms of the ‘Luanda Road Map’ and to disarm unconditionally,” she added.
Nangaa was sanctioned by the US for corruption and obstructing the 2018 election.
Congo’s Institute for Research in Human Rights denounced the creation of the new coalition.
Hubert Tshiswaka, head of the human rights NGO, urged the international community to “condemn this umpteenth attempt to destabilize the DR Congo.”