MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest wireless carrier, has become embroiled in a diplomatic dispute after Rwanda-backed rebels seized control of parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the issue centred on cross-border telecommunications signals, Bloomberg reported.

Congo’s communications regulator, ARPTC, said in a statement posted on X that it had referred “the matter to the relevant national and international bodies” and would employ “any legal means to ensure respect for the laws and the digital sovereignty of our country.” Kinshasa accused MTN Rwanda of illegally providing mobile and internet services in areas controlled by the M23 rebel group.

MTN, which does not operate a mobile network within Congo, acknowledged awareness of the complaint. The South Africa–based company said it is engaging with relevant stakeholders through appropriate channels to address the issues raised, Bloomberg reported.

Rwanda has lodged similar complaints against Congolese operators. In a letter to ARPTC seen by Bloomberg, the Rwandan government noted that signals from networks across the border were spilling into Rwandan territory. Large operators on the Congolese side include Vodacom Group Ltd., France’s Orange, and Airtel Africa Plc.

Despite the insurgent presence, Rwanda’s regulator proposed a joint technical investigation under procedures the two agencies established in 2021 to resolve cross-border frequency interference disputes, according to the letter sent late last year. Congo’s regulator declined to comment further, while Rwanda’s regulator did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Frequencies from high-altitude mobile towers can travel tens of kilometres, often crossing national borders. In a region as volatile as eastern Congo, these spillovers can create security risks by allowing devices in one country to connect to networks across the border.

The disputes occur despite a December peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump. Fighting continues in eastern Congo, with the M23 holding the two largest cities in the mineral-rich region. The rebels claim they are defending the rights of Congolese Tutsis and confronting an armed group linked to the perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

Meanwhile, Kinshasa asserts the M23 is focused on exploiting natural resources. The government has halted banking operations in the region, complicating daily transactions for millions. With cash supplies dwindling, insurgents have encouraged the use of mobile-money services, according to a United Nations report on the conflict released last month.