Rwanda-Congo clashes

This item appears on page 19 of the August 2014 issue.

On June 11 and 12, forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda exchanged gunfire near the towns of Buhumba and Kibumba on the DRC side of the border. 

According to Congolese information minister Lambert Mende, the battle began when Rwandan soldiers crossed the border and kidnapped a corporal. Fighting renewed when the Congolese military learned that the corporal had been killed. 

Reports from Rwanda claim that Congolese troops were killed when they crossed the border to steal cattle.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of giving aid to rebel groups, including the ethnic Tutsi M23 militia that was defeated in November 2013 by UN-backed Congolese. Rwanda denies this claim.