DR Congo closes border with Rwanda after soldier killed

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has closed its border with Rwanda after a Congolese soldier was shot dead by Rwandan forces.

The decision was announced by Ngoy Mukalay, director of the General Directorate of Migration in North Kivu, DRC national news agency 7sur7.cd reported on Saturday.

Mukalay told the agency in an interview that the border is closed until further notice following the incidents that have been taking place especially near the border.

Lt. Sylvester Kasani, a security officer in North Kivu, told Anadolu Agency in a phone interview that the border was closed for “security reasons.”

“The closure was triggered by Rwandan forces killing our soldier yesterday near the border,” he said.

Tensions between the two countries have been running high following the resumption of hostilities by the M23 rebel group, particularly in the DRC territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo, since mid-May.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels in renewed fighting in North Kivu. Rwanda has repeatedly dismissed the claims.

Recently, the M23 rebels occupied the Congolese town of Bunagana, near the border with Ugnada.

On Friday, the situation degenerated at the Rubavu village of Rwanda when a Congolese soldier was killed by Rwandan forces.

M23 rebels in the DRC claimed they recently mounted new attacks on the Congolese army because the DRC government has failed to implement what was agreed on in the peace talks in 2013.