The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has instructed its new ambassador to Rwanda not to start his duties, in the latest sign of strained relations between the neighbouring states.
He has been ordered “to hold on the presentation of letters of credence to Rwandan officials until further notice”.
The presentation marks the formal start of diplomatic duties.
DR Congo’s foreign ministry said it had also recalled its chargé d’affaires at the embassy in Kigali “for consultation”.
The announcement was made on Monday, just as the expelled Rwandan ambassador to Kinshasa, Vincent Karega, left DR Congo. Rwanda said it noted “with regret” his expulsion.
DR Congo accuses its neighbour of aggression under the proxy of M23 rebels.
Rwanda has consistently denied the accusation and instead accuses DR Congo’s military of collusion with a rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), based in the east of the country with the intention to attack Rwanda.
DR Congo has in turn denied that accusation, with President Félix Tshisekedi telling a UN general assembly meeting in September that the FDLR had been “decapitated” as a result of previous joint military operations against the FDLR by DR Congo and Rwanda.
He said the accusation was “an unsubstantiated alibi” for Rwanda to “justify repeated aggressions” against DR Congo.
UN Secretary General António Guterres on Sunday called on “the M23 and other armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and to disarm unconditionally”.
At the weekend, M23 captured the towns of Rutshuru and Kiwanja – some 70km (43 miles) away from Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.
Since June it has also been holding the town of Bunagana at the border with Uganda.
