The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) decision to recall its diplomats from Kigali and demand the closure of Rwanda’s embassy in Kinshasa has backfired, becoming a source of ridicule within international circles. The irony? The Rwandan Embassy in Kinshasa is already empty.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe pointed out the absurdity of the situation. “This is not a ‘communiqué’ but a ‘note verbale,’ which was sent after the last Rwandan diplomat stationed in Kinshasa, under permanent threat from Congolese officials, had already left the Congolese capital.”
The DRC’s note verbale, issued on January 24, 2025, gave Rwanda 48 hours to cease all diplomatic and consular activities in Kinshasa. However, Kigali dismissed the gesture as performative and lacking substance, further exposing the deteriorating state of DRC’s foreign policy.
This latest diplomatic stunt adds fuel to an already volatile relationship between the two neighbors.
As the international community watches, many are beginning to question the DRC’s credibility and approach to diplomacy. For Rwanda, the note verb-ale is little more than another empty gesture in a series of failed attempts to deflect attention from the real issues plaguing the region.