NAIROBI (Reuters) – An unidentified soldier believed to be from the Congolese army was killed on Saturday after crossing the border and opening fire on local security forces, Rwanda’s defense ministry said.
The ministry said in a statement that the soldier entered Rwanda’s Rubavu district and started firing at Rwandan Defense Force watchtowers.
The Congo military did not respond to a request for comment.
Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the March 23 rebel movement, which has been fighting the Congolese government for a decade. Rwanda denies the allegation.
The movement has launched several attacks in eastern Congo this year. Since March, clashes between the army and rebels have displaced thousands of civilians.
Regional powers are working to defuse tensions between Rwanda and Congo. The East African Group said former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandan President Paul Kagame agreed on Friday that M23 rebels must stop shooting and withdraw from the territory they have captured in eastern Congo.
