The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a drastic step by summoning its diplomats from Rwanda and ordering the closure of Rwanda’s embassy in Kinshasa within 48 hours.
This decision, announced by the DRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the night of Saturday, January 25, 2025, reflects the escalating diplomatic crisis between the two nations. In a statement, the ministry indicated that all necessary diplomatic procedures would be followed to enforce this decision.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, confirmed that the last Rwandan diplomat stationed in Kinshasa had already left the DRC’s capital due to persistent threats. He explained, “In diplomatic terms, this is not a communiqué but a note verbale, a formal communication sent via embassies. The note was sent to the Rwandan embassy in the DRC, at a time when our last diplomat had to leave Kinshasa because of constant intimidation from Congolese officials.”
While the DRC government has not provided detailed reasons for this decision, it comes amid a backdrop of strained relations between the two countries, largely driven by ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
The tension escalated with the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which claims to be fighting for the rights of Congolese citizens, particularly Kinyarwanda-speaking communities. The DRC has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, allegations Rwanda denies, instead accusing the Congolese army of collaborating with the FDLR, a militia composed of individuals implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
M23 has captured significant territories in eastern Congo and now threatens Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. On January 25, 2025, the group issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Congolese government forces in Goma to lay down their arms.
The closure of Rwanda’s embassy is the latest indication of the rapidly deteriorating relations between the two neighbors, with potential implications for regional stability and ongoing peace efforts.
