Rwanda is accusing ‘Kinshasa-backed’ rebels inside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of injuring an innocent civilian on Monday after clashes erupted near their shared border. But DRC reacted by indicating it had reported Kigali to a joint verification team for violating Congolese territorial integrity.
On Monday, Rwanda said its citizen was injured by a stray bullet originating from the clashes among the coalition of “Kinshasa backed illegal armed groups” in Eastern DRC near its border, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
“The injured man is receiving treatment at the Cyanzarwe Health Centre in Rubavu,” said the Office of Government Spokesperson issued a statement on Monday.
Rwanda is deeply concerned by the ongoing support and collaboration of the Government of the DRC with FDLR, other illegal armed groups, and foreign mercenaries, which is escalating provocative actions along the Rwandan border, in violation of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.”
Luanda process, mediated by Angolan President João Lourenço was supposed to help calm tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa, who accuse each other of supporting destructive rebels. The latest accusations signal broken relations that could raise tensions between them, thus hurting the Nairobi process on peace dialogue between armed groups and Kinshasa.
Maj Gen Cirimwami Peter, the interim governor of North Kivu, said the Monday clash was between two armed groups, who fought deep inside the village of Kanyarutchinya.
“The governor has ordered the immediate arrest of the troublemakers by the Defence and Security Services and their arraignment before the courts,” said Lt Col Kaiko Ndjike, army spokesman in North Kivu.
According to the press release issued on Tuesday, the governor said Congolese authorities will target trouble making foreign armed groups he said were behind attacking armed forces and civilian areas in Goma.
In Kinshasa, the government claimed it had drone images that show the Rwandan army has crossed the border to reinforce M23 positions in North Kivu. Christophe Lutundula, deputy Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, stated that “the report from our security services indicates that several compatriots have been massacred and around fifty houses have been burnt down.”
