KINSHASA, DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has pledged to compensate Kenya for damages incurred during an attack on its embassy in Kinshasa, which was ransacked by protesters on Tuesday.
The unrest comes as tensions escalate in the eastern region of the DRC, with M23 rebels advancing closer to the capital.
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS, Musalia Mudavadi, condemned the attack, describing it as a grave breach of international law and diplomatic norms.
In a statement, Mudavadi confirmed he had contacted DRC’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, who acknowledged the incident and assured swift action to restore order and prevent future occurrences.
“The violent attacks, looting, and destruction of property at our embassy in Kinshasa are deeply concerning and a direct violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Mudavadi said. “The host country has an obligation to protect diplomatic missions, their premises, and personnel, which was clearly neglected during this incident.”
I strongly condemn the attacks on Kenya’s Embassy and personnel in Kinshasa by rioters protesting the conflict in Eastern DRC. The violence, looting, and destruction also targeted Uganda’s Embassy, with planned assaults on the South African, U.S., and Belgian Embassies. In…
The attack on Kenya’s embassy occurred amid a broader wave of unrest in Kinshasa, where demonstrators also targeted Uganda’s embassy.
Reports indicated that the protests included plans to storm the embassies of South Africa, the United States, and Belgium, though these were reportedly thwarted.
Mudavadi expressed outrage that the attacks unfolded “in the full glare of DRC security officers who took no action to mitigate the situation.”
He emphasized that Kenya expects the DRC government to uphold its international obligations, particularly under the Vienna Convention, which mandates the protection of diplomatic premises and personnel.
The DRC’s Foreign Minister, Wagner, has committed to compensating Kenya for the damages and assured that measures are being implemented to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions in the country.
“We acknowledge the assurances from the DRC government, and we will continue to monitor their actions to ensure the safety and dignity of our embassy staff and their families,” Mudavadi added.
The attack highlights the volatile situation in the DRC, where the conflict between government forces and M23 rebels has displaced hundreds of thousands.
The unrest has fueled public anger, with demonstrators accusing neighboring countries of exacerbating the crisis.
While Kenya has remained vocal about the need for peace in the region, this incident raises serious concerns about the security of foreign missions in the DRC.
The Kenyan government has urged Kinshasa to strengthen its commitment to diplomatic norms and prevent further incidents that undermine international relations.
