The Congolese government denounced, on Tuesday, in a statement the Rwandan army’s attack on one of its Sukhoi-25 planes.
The authorities said the plane was attacked when it landed on the runway of Goma airport. Witnesses in the North Kivu capital said they heard a loud bang followed by gunfire as the Congolese army plane passed.
This action was considered an ‘act of war’ for Kinshasa, whereas the Rwandan authorities consider it as self-defense, given that the Congolese fighter plane ‘violated Rwandan airspace in the Rubavu district’.
Relations between the two countries are strained due to Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebels who carry out violent acts in eastern DRC. While Rwanda denies supporting this group and accuses the Congolese army of collusion with a Rwandan Hutu rebellion in eastern DRC.
Despite the announcement of a ceasefire on 23 November at a summit in Luanda, fighting persists in eastern DRC between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army.