Somali Ambassadors Clash Over Mandate in Congo DRC

GOOBJOOG NEWS|KINSHASA: A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Somalia’s ambassadors in Tanzania and Kenya over who has the legal authority to represent the country in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The row surfaced after Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, led a delegation of Somali and Kenyan businesspeople to Kinshasa without notifying the Somali Embassy in Tanzania. The Tanzania-based mission later issued a statement asserting that it alone is mandated to safeguard Somalia’s interests in Congo.

The standoff has exposed divisions within Somalia’s foreign service and raised concerns about how effectively the country manages its diplomatic affairs abroad.

Mandate Overreach

Under diplomatic arrangements, if a country lacks a resident embassy in a state, it designates another mission in the region to cover it. Somalia’s embassy in Tanzania holds formal accreditation for Congo. But by organizing business visits and meetings in Kinshasa, the Nairobi mission was perceived to have overstepped its mandate, encroaching on Tanzania’s jurisdiction.

The clash carries direct implications for Somali traders eyeing Congo’s vast markets for transport, fuel, and cargo services. Businesspeople could face confusion over which Somali mission has the authority to support them when dealing with legal or security issues. At the same time, the DRC government may view Somalia as disorganized, undermining confidence in future trade and investment opportunities.

The episode also underscores systemic weaknesses in Somalia’s foreign policy management. The country risks appearing divided, with its embassies competing rather than coordinating. DRC officials may be left unsure which Somali mission to formally recognize, while regional powers such as Kenya and Uganda could exploit the vacuum to strengthen their own influence in Congo.

Observers warn that unless Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs improves coordination among its embassies, such disputes could continue to harm the country’s international standing and economic interests.