19 August 2025 | 13:21 CAT
2-minute read

Kinshasa & Goma: Diplomatic Discord Amid Conflict

DR Congo has formally rejected Kenya’s nomination of a Consul General to the eastern city of Goma, held since January by the M23 rebel group. Kinshasa denounced the move as a violation of diplomatic norms, asserting that Kenya failed to consult the Congolese government — a fundamental breach of international protocol. The DRC government warns that such an appointment risks legitimising the rebel authority controlling the region.

This crisis emerges against a backdrop of heightened regional tension. Since M23’s rapid offensive captured Goma early this year, peace talks mediated by Qatar have stalled. Analysts warn that Kenya’s action could erode trust and derail fragile regional reconciliation efforts.

“Kenya’s decision … basically smacks of recognizing the M23 rebel groups’ supposed parallel government in Goma,” political analyst Ayesha Kajee said during this week’s Africa Report.

Her words echo the DRC’s concern that the Kenya appointment tacitly endorses M23’s governance, undermining Kinshasa’s sovereignty and destabilising regional diplomacy.

Northern Nigeria: A Humanitarian Emergency Deepens

Northern Nigeria is in the grips of a severe food security crisis, driven by conflict, displacement, and drastic cuts in international aid. Nearly 31 million people now experience acute food insecurity — a figure equivalent to an entire US state.

The UN warns that more than 1,3 million individuals are poised to lose access to lifesaving food aid, as over 150 nutrition clinics in conflict-ravaged Borno State risk closure. Up to 300 000 children may face severe malnutrition, and 700 000 displaced persons could be left without support altogether. Médecins Sans Frontières reports that 652 children in Katsina State have died from malnutrition in the first half of 2025 — a staggering 208% rise compared to 2024.

“The US funding cuts via USAID earlier this year have severely impacted not only food distribution in the region, but also the availability of medicines, the availability of supplements and the availability of medical personnel in the region,” Kajee said.

Her assessment underscores how the dismantling of USAID has crippled local health systems. This has devastating ripple effects given soaring malnutrition and health crises.

South Africa: National Dialogue or Costly Symbolism?

Earlier this month, South Africa convened a National Dialogue aimed at addressing longstanding socio-economic woes.

But Ayesha Kajee voiced ambivalence. “Most South Africans … know what our problems are. We don’t need a talkshop to actually re-articulate those problems … it appears to be a costly, very cosmetic exercise to tell us what we already know, quite frankly,” she said.

She stressed that citizens yearn for tangible improvements: reliable electricity, clean water supply, affordable housing, and a basic income grant for those unemployed or unable to work. Public dissatisfaction stems from glaring failures in service delivery and persistent corruption — issues many feel are better addressed through action, not discourse.

Listen to the Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.