Rwanda fires at Congolese military plane, claiming it violate airspace

 BY: News Peddlers

Rwandan troops

Rwandan forces fired on a fighter jet from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that they claimed violated their airspace.

As a result, the Congolese government accused it of war crimes.

A video widely circulated on Congolese social media showed a projectile shooting towards an airborne military plane before exploding near the plane, which continued to fly.

The video could not be verified immediately by Reuters.

The Congo has denied Rwanda's claim that the jet was in Rwandan airspace, the latest squabble between the two countries, whose relationship has been strained by a rebel insurgency.

"The Rwandan shots were directed at a Congolese aircraft flying within Congolese territory," it said in a statement, confirming the plane landed safely in the provincial capital Goma.

It called Rwanda's action a "deliberate act of aggression that amounts to an act of war" aimed at undermining a peace agreement to end the M23 rebel group's offensive.

Rwandan forces fired on the jet after it violated the country's airspace in Rubavu - the same area as previous alleged violations - prompting the government to take defensive measures, according to the Rwandan government.

"Rwanda requests that the DRC cease this aggression," said government spokesperson Yolande Makolo in a statement.

Congo, UN experts, and Western powers have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 in eastern Congo, which seized several towns and villages last year in renewed fighting.

Rwanda has categorically denied any involvement.

In November, regional leaders reached an agreement under which the Tutsi-led group was to withdraw from recently seized positions by January 15 as part of efforts to end the fighting, which has displaced at least 450,000 people.

Last week, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi stated that the rebels had not completely withdrawn from those areas.

In December, Rwanda reported that another Congolese fighter jet had briefly violated its airspace.

In December, Rwanda reported that another Congolese fighter jet had briefly violated its airspace.

In November, an unarmed Congolese warplane briefly landed at a Rwandan airport while on a reconnaissance mission near the border, which Congo claimed was an accident.

(Reuters/NAN)