The Rwandan Army reported Saturday the death of a suspected Congolese military officer who crossed the border between the two countries and opened fire on a watchtower before being shot dead by Rwandan forces.
This incident comes amid efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebel group March 23 Movement (M23) during the bloody clashes that have flared up in recent weeks in the Congolese province of North Kivu, something Kigali has strongly denied.
According to the Rwandan military communiqué, the incident took place at 01.00 this morning, local time, when an «unidentified soldier, but who could be a member of the Congolese Armed Forces», crossed the border through the locality of Ruvabu and started shooting at a Rwandan Army watchtower.
A military patrol shot him dead before he caused any damage,» the army added.
The Rwandan Army has placed the investigation in the hands of the Joint Expanded Verification Mechanism (JVCM) and «ensures that the situation at the border remains calm.»
The JVCM includes military experts from member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and monitors and investigates security incidents in the area.
