LAGOS, Nigeria — The Congolese government on Saturday rejected Kenya’s appointment of a consul general to its conflict-hit city of Goma, citing what it called a violation of international law and a lack of proper diplomatic process.

Goma, located in eastern Congo, has been at the center of a conflict between the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which launched a lightning assault on the mineral-rich regional city in January. The city fell to the rebel group after days of fighting, and the Congolese army withdrew.

The Congolese foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday that Kenya did not contact Congo's government in the capital, Kinshasa, before making the announcement, as required by international law and diplomatic practice.

M23, which is one of about a h

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