The Rwandan Government through the Office of the Government Spokesman has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of violating its airspace along the Lake Kivu Region in the western province on Wednesday 28th December 2022 around 1200HRS before returning back to DRC.

Rwandan authorities have protested to the DRC government following the Sukhoi-25 jet intrusion to its airspace.

Rwanda reports that a similar incident happened on 7th November 2022 when a similar jet touched down at Rubavu Airport before returning to DRC in what it terms as a continued “series of provocations.”

Further, Rwanda says the provocations are against the spirit of the Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives saying these provocations must stop.

Kigali says the DRC government seems emboldened by the consistent coddling by the international community who have continuously heaped blame on Rwanda for the M23 movement in Eastern DRC and have ignored the transgressions from DRC.

Rwanda and the DRC have been engaged in an exchange of blame since the recent rise of the M23 movement which saw the militia take parts of Eastern DRC with Kinshasa blaming Kigali for supporting the outfit.

Last week the M23 group agreed to ceed some of its captured territories to the East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF). The UN has also accused the Ugandan rebel group ADF of attacks in the Beni and Lubero, in North Kivu, and in southern Ituri.