Rwanda says civilians injured from DR Congo shelling

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Rwanda’s military said Monday that shelling of the country’s northern territory by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) had injured several civilians and damaged property.

The attack targeted sectors of Musanze district between 09.59 a.m. and 10.20 a.m. local time, said a statement by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).

“Those injured are receiving treatment and officials are assessing the extent of the damage,” said Col. Ronald Rwivanga, the spokesman for the RDF.

A woman who was returning home from her garden was reportedly among the injured.

The Rwandan army said it had asked the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), a regional military framework for 12 countries in the Great Lakes region, to conduct an “urgent investigation” into the shelling.

“Rwandan authorities are also engaging their DR Congo counterparts over the incident,” Rwivanga said, adding the situation is normal and security is assured in the area.

There was no immediate comment from DR Congo on the reports.

But fighting recently erupted on several hills in Rutshuru territory in the DR Congo’s North Kivu province between government forces and rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23).

On Sunday, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) accused M23 of attacking its base on one of the hills in Rutshuru, prompting the UN force to join the FARDC in an offensive against the rebels.

On Monday, local media reported that the clashes had reached the border area between the DR Congo and Rwanda.

In 2014, Rwanda accused the Congolese army of firing a rocket on its territory in the western Rwanda border district of Rubavu.

Also, in 2013, Rwanda accused the FARDC of firing over 60 projectiles on Rwandan territory, killing and injuring civilians.