Tensions flare at Rwanda-Congo border as soldier killed in crossfire

According to the RDF statement, the third soldier fired at the patrol and was fatally shot. No Rwandan personnel were harmed. Investigations are ongoing.

The Congolese military confirmed the incident, acknowledging the soldiers inadvertently crossed the border during a patrol. In a statement, Spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge expressed regret for the soldier’s death and requested the repatriation of all three soldiers.

This incident comes against the backdrop of long-standing accusations by Kinshasa against Kigali of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo. The Tutsi-led M23 offensive last year displaced over a million people.

This recent border incident adds fuel to the fire of simmering tensions between the two neighbors. The porous nature of the border, combined with past incidents of border crossings and shootings, raises concerns about further escalation and potential regional instability.