Rwanda: Stray bullet hits citizen near DR Congo border

Clash between armed groups near the border of  Democratic Republic of Congo has left a Rwandan national hit by a stray bullet, Rwanda's government says.

The Rwandan government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo said the incident occurred on Monday, 23rd October in the Rubavu border area

“The injured man is receiving treatment at the Cyanzarwe Health Centre in Rubavu," she added.

She said that Rwanda is worried  by escalating provocative actions along the DR Congo border and  blamed the "Kinshasa-backed illegal armed groups" for the clashes.

The spokesperson said Rwanda will maintain "defensive and preventive mechanisms" to guard against violations of its airspace and borders.

Speaking earlier on Monday at the opening of the Preparatory Conference for the 2023 Peacekeeping Ministerial on Protection of Civilians and Strategic Communications, the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda said that the presence of FDLR and other armed groups which propagate the the genocidal and hate ideology continues to undermine regional security.

He pointed out that despite Rwanda raising the alarm over the years, little has been done to deal with the FDLR, which continues to pose a threat to Rwanda’s security.

There was no immediate response from the DR Congo government.

Rwanda has repeatedly accused DR Congo of colluding with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which includes some of the alleged leaders of Rwanda's 1994 genocide. Kinshasa rejects the accusations.

For its part, DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 militia - a primarily Congolese ethnic-Tutsi rebel group - allegations Kigali denies.