Rwanda-DRC: Congolese fighter plane once again violated Rwandan airspace

The Rwandan government has announced that its airspace has been violated by a DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) fighter plane. The Rwandan authorities describe the incident as “provocations” which go against the Luanda and Nairobi agreements. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to the press release, the misadventure took place around noon, this Wednesday, December 28, 2022. It was along Lake Kivu separating the two neighbors of the Great Lakes region of Africa that it landed, according to the Rwandan authorities.

“The incident is part of a series of provocations including another fighter jet which briefly landed at Rubavu airport (Western province of Rwanda) on November 7, 2022”, announced Rwanda which recalls that “the Congolese authorities acknowledged the incident” after its protest last November.

“These repeated violations are against the spirit of the Luanda and Nairobi peace accords and initiatives,” the statement read.

“The authorities of the DRC seem to be spoiled by the constant encouragement of certain members of the international community who repeatedly accuse Rwanda of all the evils of the DRC, while ignoring the transgressions of the DRC”.

According to the Rwandan government, these provocations must “stop”.

The Congolese government has not yet reacted to these new allegations. Our editorial staff tried to reach the Congolese ministry in charge of communication and the government spokesperson, in vain.

Relations continue to deteriorate between the two countries of the Great Lakes of Africa following the crisis which prevails in the east of the vast country of Central Africa where the M23, an armed group composed of Congolese Tutsis continues to gain ground, with President Félix Tshisekedi himself accusing Rwanda of supporting this group.

But last Friday, the M23 ceded part of its positions to the regional force of the EAC. These are positions installed in the locality of Kibumba, in the territory of Nyiragongo in the province of North Kivu (eastern DRC).

The rebel movement has announced that it wants to “prove our desire to contribute to the return to lasting peace”. This is after the mini-summit in Luanda (Angola) and the third round of talks in Nairobi (Kenya) on resolving the crisis in eastern Congo. The M23, however, indicated “reserves the right to intervene if innocent populations are killed”.

Recently, several international organizations, countries and UN experts have supported the Congolese authorities’ accusations against Rwanda. What the Rwandan government continues to deny.

For its part, Rwanda accuses the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) of collaborating with the genocidaires FDLR in order to destabilize its territory.

The M23, a former Tutsi rebellion which took up arms again at the end of 2021, criticizes the Congolese authorities for not having respected its commitments on the reintegration of its fighters.

On the ground, tens of thousands of civilians have fled their locality to find shelter in areas deemed more secure or even in Uganda.

Since mid-June this year, the M23 rebels have taken over several areas in the province of North Kivu, including Bunagana, the border town with Uganda.

A few days ago, the Congolese authorities accused the M23 of having massacred 272 civilians in two villages under its occupation, with the UN putting the death toll at 130. The Congolese minister in charge of justice brought the case before the ICC (International Criminal Court).

The M23 has denied these accusations calling for an independent and impartial investigation.