I rejected DRC demand to arrest Congolese politicians – Ruto

President William Ruto on Sunday broke his silence on the decision by the Democratic Republic of Congo to recall its ambassador. 

Ruto said he could not intervene as every country has its own democracy.

"If they (DRC) decide they want to recall their ambassador because a statement was issued in Nairobi that is there right," he said at State House.

DRC on Saturday recalled its ambassador amid deepening tension between the two countries following the launch of a new Congolese military alliance, which includes rebels, in Nairobi.

The country also recalled its head of mission in Tanzania "for consultations".

Alain Tshibanda, the spokesperson for Congo's foreign ministry, announced the developments on the X social media platform, formerly Twitter.

On Friday, Congolese politicians and groups including the M23 rebels who have seized eastern Congo, and Corneille Nangaa, a former Congo election commission chief, launched the Congo River Alliance in Nairobi.

Speaking at the launch, Nangaa, sanctioned by the US for corruption and obstructing the 2018 election, said the alliance would bring together various Congolese armed groups, militias and social and political organizations.

The new alliance is an additional concern in a region where insecurity has persisted for decades, fueled by ethnic rivalries and a tussle over land and resources with regional implications.

Speaking on the matter, President Ruto said that following the new developments in Nairobi, some officers in DRC complained why Kenya allowed the group to issue a statement.

As the Head of State, Ruto said Kenya was a democratic nation, hence no one needs permission of the government to issue a statement.

He emphasised that his government cannot arrest anyone for simply issuing a statement. 

"DRC wanted to know if we could arrest the people who released the statement but we said we cannot. We only arrest criminals and deal with them but not issuing statement.

"Statements are issued almost every day against me but I never arrested anyone. That is undemocratic...that is not how Kenya is...we are different," Ruto added.

Going further, President Ruto said Kenya does not have a problem with DRC on why the troops are exiting the country.

He explained that DRC has an election coming up and as Kenya, "we went to only assist them in matters on security".

"Our armed forces went to stop war together with others from Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan. We have been there for a year and DRC saw that it was the end of Kenya's aid," Ruto said.

"We held a summit in Arusha and we agreed to exit from the scene so that other countries can come and support them," he added.

Early this month, the  East African Community (EAC) Chiefs of Defence Forces/Staff adopted an exit plan for the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) from the Eastern DRC.

The security chiefs convened an extraordinary meeting in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania to address the modalities of the exit following the DRC's decision not to extend the current mandate.

The CDF/S meeting upheld DRC's decision and recommended to the EAC Defence Ministers that EACRF officially cease its operations in Eastern DRC, with effect from December 8, 2023.

Further, Troop Contributing Countries are to commence the withdrawal of forces from Eastern DRC in line with the adopted exit plan.

Kenya has already withdrawn 300 personnel with South Sudan was expected to withdraw 287 troops by the end of December 8, the deadline of the stay.

Subsequently, the remaining EACRF troops, including Uganda and Burundi contingents, will continue their withdrawal and backloading of equipment by air and road respectively, from December 8, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

The last component to leave will be the EACRF Headquarters.