Nov. 7 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of Rwanda has accused the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of a “provocation” on Monday after one of its military planes entered its airspace, amid bilateral tensions around the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23).
“A DRC Sukhoi-25 fighter jet violated Rwandan airspace at 11:20 a.m. (local time) and briefly landed at Rubavu airport in Western province,” the Rwandan government said in a brief statement. Rubavu is located on the border between both countries.
Thus, he stressed that “Rwanda did not adopt military measures in response” and added that the plane “returned to the DRC.” “The Rwandan authorities have protested this provocation to the DRC government, which has recognized the incident,” he stressed.
The incident took place a day after Kinshasa and Kigali agreed to accelerate as much as possible the agreement to ease bilateral tension around the activity of the M23 in northeastern Congo, amid Congolese accusations against Rwanda. for his alleged support of the group
Rwanda has denied the accusations and pointed out the Congolese government for supporting the rebel movement of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), in a crisis fueled by a great advance of the M23 in the territories of North Kivu that culminated the week passed with the expulsion of the Rwandan ambassador to the DRC, Vincent Karenga.
The M23 has been accused since November 2021 of carrying out attacks against DRC Army positions in North Kivu, seven years after the parties reached a truce. United Nations experts have accused Uganda and Rwanda of supporting the rebels, although both countries have denied this.
