“There are times when relations between neighbouring countries can be strained, and unfortunately, this is what happened in the North Kivu region recently. A tragic incident occurred on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday when a soldier of the DRC Armed Forces was killed by a soldier of the Rwandan Defence Force.
Details of this incident are still scarce, but it is clear that this is a delicate situation that deserves a thorough investigation. Civil society in Nyiragongo reacted by denouncing this act as a provocation on the part of the Rwandan military, recalling the latter’s frequent incursions on Congolese soil.
Thierry Gasisiro, a representative of civil society, called for serious investigations to shed light on this matter and asked the Congolese government to strengthen security along the border with Rwanda. It is imperative to put an end to these tragic incidents that fuel tensions between the two countries.
This event is all the more worrying as it comes just weeks after a Rwandan soldier shot dead a Congolese soldier during a shootout at the small barrier in Goma. These events underline the importance of cooperation and communication between the armed forces to avoid such tragedies in the future.
It is essential that the authorities of both countries work together to ease tensions and strengthen border security. The peace and stability of the region depend on it, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
Let us hope that concrete steps will be taken to prevent further clashes and to promote cooperation and understanding between the two neighbouring countries. The peaceful resolution of disputes is the only way to a secure and prosperous future for the North Kivu region.”