Rwanda said several civilians were injured by rocket fire from Congolese soldiers on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and called for an “urgent investigation” into the incident.
The rockets landed in the Musanze district, bordering DR Congo, “injuring several civilians and damaging homes,” the Rwandan army said in a statement.
The shooting occurred Monday morning and lasted 21 minutes, according to the army, which did not provide further details. “The situation in the area is normal and security is assured,” said a Rwandan army spokesman, Col. Ronald Rwivanga.
Kigali said it had asked the expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM), a regional body that monitors and investigates security incidents in the volatile Great Lakes region, to conduct an immediate investigation.
“Rwandan authorities have also contacted their Congolese counterparts regarding this incident,” said Colonel Rwivanga.
The Congolese army had no immediate reaction to the Rwandan accusations. The two neighboring countries have had tense relations since the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.