Kenya to Investigate the Establishment of an Anti-Congo Alliance in Nairobi

Kenya announced on Sunday that it has completely distanced itself from an anti-Kinshasa alliance established in Nairobi on Friday, and it will conduct an investigation after the Democratic Republic of the Congo summoned its ambassador to protest the matter. The so-called Congo River Alliance includes Congolese politicians and groups such as the March 23 Movement, a rebel group that has controlled areas in eastern Congo, and Cornel Nanga, the former head of the electoral commission in Congo. In response to this development, Congo summoned its ambassadors to Kenya and Tanzania for consultation on Saturday. The envoy to Tanzania was called because it hosts the headquarters of the East African Community, to which Congo also belongs. Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi stated in a statement that Kenya is aware that some Congolese citizens spoke to the press in Kenya and made statements "contrary to the constitutional order of the Democratic Republic of the Congo." He added that "Kenya strongly distances itself from any statements or activities that could harm the peace and security of the friendly Democratic Republic of the Congo and has begun an investigation." The minister noted that the investigation will seek to "identify those who formulated the statement and to what extent their remarks exceed the scope of constitutionally protected free speech."