DR Congo fighter jet allegedly violated Rwandan airspace

According to the government of Rwanda, on Tuesday, a fighter plane from the Democratic Republic of the Congo breached its airspace, causing its defence forces to open fire in retaliation. 

A missile was seen firing toward a military plane in the air in a video that was extensively circulated on Congolese social media. The projectile then burst into flames nearby as the plane continued to fly. The footage could not immediately be verified by Reuters. 

A rebel insurrection has strained relations between the two nations, and the incident represents the most recent argument between them. 

Congo, The M23 rebel group in eastern Congo, which last year launched offensives to seize many towns and villages, has been accused by United Nations experts and Western nations of having the support of Rwanda. A Rwandan official has denied involvement. 

An agreement between the Tutsi-led group and the region’s leaders was mediated in November as part of efforts to put an end to a conflict that has displaced at least 450,000 people. The deal called for the group to withdraw from recently taken positions by January 15. 

Last Monday, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said that the rebels had not completely left certain districts. 

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Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government, claimed in a statement that “the RDF (Rwanda Defense Force) fired at the fighter jet from the DRC that breached Rwandan airspace in Rubavu—the same region as prior violations.” 

At 5:03 p.m. local time, according to Makolo, the jet breached its airspace, causing the authorities to retaliate. She said, “Rwanda wants the DRC to stop this violence.” 

The Congolese government said that a statement was being prepared when contacted for comment. 

Rwanda claimed that a second fighter plane from the Congo had briefly trespassed into its airspace in December. 

In November, an unarmed Congolese warplane that was conducting a reconnaissance mission close to the border accidentally made a brief landing at a Rwandan airstrip. 

Reuters