DRC Soldier Shot Dead After Firing at Rwanda Border

An armed soldier from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) was shot dead Friday after he allegedly crossed into Rwanda and fired indiscriminately at Rwandan security personnel and civilians.

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"This morning at around 8:45 a.m., an unidentified Congolese soldier armed with an AK 47 rifle crossed the Petite Barriere border in Rubavu district and began shooting at security personnel and civilians crossing the border, injuring two Rwandan police officers," Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) said in a statement.

A Rwanda National Police officer on duty shot back in self-defense, to protect civilians crossing the border and border agents, and the DRC soldier was shot dead 25 meters inside Rwandan territory.

RDF has invited the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) to investigate the incident. Currently, DRC authorities, and DRC-Rwanda border officials are visiting the scene.

"The government is closely monitoring the situation in Goma following the incident deplored this morning at the 'Petite Barriere' border with Rwanda," DRC's government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said.

Although he confirmed that an investigation to clarify what happened had been launched, the DRC spokesperson did not share further details about the shooting or subsequent incidents.

"Congolese police held back around a hundred demonstrators who tried to head to the border post, chanting slogans against Rwandan President Paul Kagame," the Bangkok Post reported, recalling that fighting between Congolese troops and the M23 rebel movement "has inflamed tensions between the two neighbours."