The Kenyan, Ugandan, Rwandan, South African and US embassies in Congolese capital Kinshasa came under attack by rioters protesting the seizure of Goma City by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, casting a global spotlight on a protracted conflict that has spiralled out of control in recent days.
Two Kenyan embassy staff were forced to flee for dear life as the surging crowd gained access to the consulate compound, but no injuries were reported as other workers were offsite.
The clashes in Goma have resulted in at least 25 deaths, hundreds of injuries and caused a massive wave of refugees fleeing the violence.
Civilians carry their belongings as they flee from the Nzulo camp for the internally displaced to Goma as fighting intensifies between the M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), near Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo January 22, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Cabinet Secretary, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the attacks “by a riotous mob” demanding an audit of the damage to the embassy and reparations by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We pointed out to the Foreign Minister of DRC that two of Kenya’s staff members had to escape and seek refuge elsewhere, despite the expectation that their safety and that of their families should be guaranteed by the DRC authorities as obligated by international law and provided for by Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations... These unfortunate attacks happened in the full glare of DRC security officers who took no action to mitigate the situation.”
Mr Mudavadi said he had reached out to his counterpart in Kinshasa, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who “confirmed the unfortunate incident and assured that urgent measures were being taken to address the situation and re-establish order.”
Internally displaced civilians from the camps in Munigi and Kibati, carry their belongings as they flee following the fight between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, January 26, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS
Nairobi does not have a substantive ambassador in Kinshasa as Shem Amadi, appointed last year, is yet to present his papers, amid somewhat tense diplomatic relations between the two capitals partly blamed on the 2023 launch in Nairobi of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) that is affiliated to the M23.
The embassy trade attaché, Erick Nabwana, indicated to Nation that the staff had been told to minimise movement, after which they decided to hold their meetings at the residence.
“We are all safe,” Mr Nabwana said.
He added that he witnessed massive looting of businesses in the capital, including supermarkets, hotels and showrooms by violent groups of civilians. “The numbers were overwhelming. There has been massive looting in the city and it is still a bit dangerous,” he said.
The violence was roundly condemned by the UN, the African Union and the East African Community (EAC).
The attack came as President William Ruto prepared to host an extraordinary summit of the EAC Heads of State Summit today to address the security crisis in eastern DRC.
A member of the security forces removes obstacles from a road, during a demonstration in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 28, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Justin Makangara
President Ruto, who is the current Chair of the regional bloc, called the meeting following escalation of the war in eastern Congo and the violent takeover of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and an important commercial hub in the Great Lakes region. The M23, a rebel group backed by Rwanda, has claimed control of the city.
President Ruto calls EAC extraordinary summit in 48 hours to address the DRC conflict
The events in Goma triggered riots in Kinshasa, where protestors attacked the Kenyan embassy on Avenue de l'Ouganda Gombe, alongside those of Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, US, France and the UN compound, over what they termed foreign interference.
President Ruto hopes that today’s summit will de-escalate the crisis, blamed on unresolved grievances of Rwandan-Congolese of eastern Congo.
In a statement to African leaders whom he hosted at State House Nairobi on Monday to review plans for institutional changes in the African Union, President Ruto said he had convinced the two protagonists in the eastern Congo problem, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, to attend the emergency meeting to iron out the issues pertinent to the conflict.
He said the Congo situation had festered for over 30 years without resolution and he was seeking direct engagement with the M23 “and all the other stakeholders in the theatre in eastern DRC,” adding that dialogue is a necessity in getting to understand the issues and possibly the root causes of the conflict that has persisted for many years.
“We will be willing to listen to all the actors in the space and it is our hope that we will come out with a way forward that includes a facilitation and a mediation that will bring the parties on board to see how to process the issues that informed this conflict to get solutions,” he said.
On Sunday, Dr Ruto released a statement saying the escalating conflict and deteriorating situation in eastern DRC were of grave concern to the people and governments of East Africa.
“As the current Chair of the East African Community, Kenya is aware of the region’s critical responsibility in de-escalating violence and facilitating dialogue between the parties involved. We firmly believe that a sustainable solution can only be achieved through engagement, constructive dialogue, and a renewed commitment to peace.
"I call on the parties to the Luanda Process on eastern DRC and appeal to my brothers, President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, both of whom I have spoken to this evening, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community,” he said.
Kenyan businesses impacted
Mr Nabwana said: “The fall of Goma is a huge setback to businesses as it is an important commercial hub. I urge Kenyans to keep indoors and ensure their safety,”
Following the closure of the Goma airport, Kenyan carrier Jambo Jet on Monday announced it was cancelling flights to Goma “due to the increasing safety concerns and closure of the airspace.”
A member of the security forces removes obstacles from a road, during a demonstration in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 28, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Justin Makangara
“The safety and security of our guests and staff is our utmost priority. We are closely monitoring these developments and will deliberate on the next steps together with key stakeholders both in Goma and Nairobi,” the airline said in a statement.
Jambo Jet launched the Nairobi-Goma route in September 2021 and has been operating four flights a week. These have been suspended indefinitely, dealing a blow to the airline and the travellers between the two cities.
Thousands of Kenyans run businesses in Goma and now some are stranded in the volatile region due to lack of transport and others, such as truck drivers, are stuck with merchandise en route to Congo.
On the northern Corridor, transporters headed for eastern Congo are stuck with their goods.
This will be bad news to the port of Mombasa, which serves the Northern Corridor, as evacuation of cargo will be slow, adding to the costs for importers in demurrage, storage and other costs.
A member of the security forces removes obstacles from a road, during a demonstration in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 28, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Justin Makangara
About 12 per cent of transit cargo handled in 2024 was destined to eastern Congo, according to data from the Kenya Ports Authority.
At least 1,039,732 tonnes of Congo-bound cargo passed through the port of Mombasa.
In Goma, tension continued to build up, with reports that the rebels had given 48 hours to those wishing to leave the city to do so after creating a safe corridor.
Bantu Sigh Mangat, a businessman resident in Goma, who hails from Kenya, told the Nation that he and the family were safe. “There is no cause for alarm,” he said.
Internet, electricity and water supply have been cut off since Sunday. Reporters on the Congo-Rwanda border yesterday evening said that the rebels had freed 47 truck drivers from Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi who were stranded in Goma due to the fighting.
