DRC names new envoy to Kigali

The Democratic Republic of Congo has appointed a new Ambassador to to Rwanda. This comes barely two months after Kigali named former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amandin Rugira as its envoy to Kinshasa. According to reports from Kinshasa, the DRC government appointed Norbert Nkulu Kilombo Mitumba, a senior civil servant, as its new envoy to Kigali. The move marks a milestone in restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries that have for the past decade been strained. Mitumba, reports say, was named in a letter dated July 3 from the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was at one time State Minister in the Office of the President until last year. Despite past conflict and suspicion between the two countries, the last one year has seen senior government officials from both sides shuttling between their capitals to signal improving ties. The revived relations between the two countries resulted into an operation jointly mounted by both armies against insurgents of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Mounted early this year, the operation code-named Umoja Wetu saw thousands of these rebels and their dependants surrender and return to Rwanda. The FDLR is group made up of elements mostly responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and have been in Congolese jungles for the last 15 years. Meanwhile, other reports indicate that a delegation from Rwanda is currently in Kinshasa to prepare premises a nd arrange logistics for the new embassy. By press time, Foreign Affairs Minister Rosemary Museminali could not be reached for comment as her phone was of air. Ends

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DRC names new envoy to Kigali