The Congolese government on Saturday rejected Kenya’s appointment of a consul general to the city of Goma, describing the decision as “inappropriate”.
Goma, located in eastern Congo, has been at the centre of a conflict between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
It launched a lightning assault on the mineral-rich regional city in January. Goma fell to the rebel group after days of fighting, and the Congolese army withdrew.
Kinshasa said naming a consul to the city amounted to disrespect for the country’s territorial integrity and could appear to legitimise the group’s occupation.