The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has pledged to compensate Kenya for damages sustained at its embassy in Kinshasa, which was attacked and looted by locals on Tuesday amid escalating tensions as M23 rebels advance toward the capital.
In a statement released on the same day, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi condemned the violent incident, emphasizing that he had contacted his counterpart in the DRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss potential solutions.
“Kenya is deeply concerned about the attacks on our embassy personnel in Kinshasa by a riotous mob protesting the violent conflict in Eastern DRC. The unwarranted assault, looting, and destruction of property extended to the Ugandan embassy as well. There were also plans by demonstrators to target the South African, U.S., and Belgian embassies,” Mudavadi stated.
He expressed dismay that these attacks occurred in the presence of DRC security forces, who failed to intervene. However, the DRC Foreign Minister has committed to evaluating the situation and compensating the Kenyan government for the damage inflicted on its embassy.
Mudavadi further acknowledged the assurances provided by DRC Foreign Minister Hon. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who affirmed the DRC’s commitment to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He noted that the DRC government is taking emergency measures to ensure the safety and security of Kenyan staff and their families.
