Stray bullet hits Rwandan near DR Congo border

25th Oct 2023 | Source: BBC

A Rwandan national has been hit by a stray bullet during clashes between armed groups near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda's government says.

The incident happened on Monday in the Rubavu border area, Rwanda's spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said in a statement.

“The injured man is receiving treatment at the Cyanzarwe Health Centre in Rubavu," she added.

Ms Makolo said Rwanda is "deeply concerned" by escalating "provocative actions" along the DR Congo border.

She blamed the "Kinshasa-backed illegal armed groups" for the clashes.

The spokesperson said Rwanda will maintain "defensive and preventive mechanisms" to guard against violations of its airspace and borders.

There was no immediate response from the DR Congo government.

Rwanda has repeatedly accused DR Congo of colluding with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which includes some of the alleged leaders of Rwanda's 1994 genocide. Kinshasa rejects the accusations.

For its part, DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 militia - a primarily Congolese ethnic-Tutsi rebel group - allegations Kigali denies.