U.S.-Based Congolese Oppose Ruto’s Nomination of Consul General to Goma
The Forum of Congolese Intellectuals Abroad (FICE), a diaspora group based in the United States, has strongly criticised President William Ruto’s recent nomination of Judy Kiaria Nkumiri as Kenya’s Consul General to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the organisation, the move is deeply troubling because it risks giving legitimacy to an ongoing illegal occupation in the region, threatens Congo’s national sovereignty, and could disrupt fragile peace efforts that are currently supported by international partners such as the United States and Qatar.
Goma, the city where the consulate would be established, is located in North Kivu Province, a region that remains unstable and partially controlled by the M23 rebel group. The militia has for years been accused of committing atrocities, including killings, mass displacement of civilians, and other human rights abuses.
Dr. Ngoie Joël Nshisso, the head of FICE, issued a strong statement condemning the nomination. He said, “This decision by President Ruto is not diplomacy—it is a dangerous attempt to normalise the control of a terrorist militia over Congolese territory. By bypassing Kinshasa and disregarding established international norms, Kenya risks undermining the progress made by peace initiatives led by the U.S. and Qatar, while at the same time encouraging further violence in eastern Congo.”
FICE is not the only body to express outrage. The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo also rejected the announcement. Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner described the nomination as inappropriate and contrary to international law.
She referred to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which requires the approval of the host country before any consul can be appointed or begin official duties.
Minister Wagner went further to emphasise that, “Any declaration regarding the appointment of a consul in Goma is highly inappropriate and cannot be taken into account without the consent of Congolese authorities.”
In response to the growing criticism, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, attempted to clarify the situation.
Speaking on August 19, he explained that President Ruto’s announcement of a nominee should not be interpreted as a completed diplomatic posting. Instead, he insisted that the nomination was only a proposal, which must first go through the right procedures.
Mudavadi stressed that Judy Kiaria Nkumiri would not be able to take up her position in Goma until both Kenya’s Parliament and the Congolese government had given their approval. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and the Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo promptly and formally raised concerns about Kenya’s nomination of a Consul General in Goma, citing the lack of prior consultations,” Mudavadi stated.
He further explained that Kenya would follow both constitutional requirements and proper diplomatic protocols. Once Parliament approves the nominee, the government will then seek agrément, which is the formal acceptance by the host state—in this case, the DRC—before the posting becomes official.
The matter has now stirred heated debate both in Kenya and abroad, with many observers warning that such appointments in conflict-sensitive regions must be handled delicately to avoid worsening already fragile peace efforts.
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