The Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to release two Rwandan soldiers detained amid rising tensions between the two neighbors, Angolan President Joao Lourenço said Tuesday.
The announcement came after talks on Tuesday between the Angolan leader and DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi.
“At the request of his Angolan counterpart, (Mr. Tshisekedi) agreed to release two Rwandan soldiers recently captured in the territory of the DRC,” said Lourenço’s office.
“This measure is intended to help reduce tension in relations between the two countries,” they added.
Lourenço then had a conversation by video conference with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Luanda also said.
Following these talks, the Rwandan and Congolese leaders reached “an agreement” to meet face-to-face in the Angolan capital, at a date to be announced.
A diplomatic row between Kigali and Kinshasa has intensified in recent days, with both sides trading accusations of aiding armed militias in the volatile eastern DRC region that borders Rwanda.
Rwanda last week accused the Congolese armed forces of firing rockets into its territory and said two of its soldiers were abducted during a patrol by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel group active in eastern DRC.
The Congolese army in turn said Sunday that the two soldiers had entered its territory and had been taken into custody