Two soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who, on Saturday, allegedly entered Rwanda illegally on a spy mission, were killed in a shoot out with Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF).
One of the deceased was identified as Corporal Mbanza Numba Bisogolo. His slain colleague could not be readily identified because he was immediately whisked away during the gun battle.
Mbanza’s body was last evening handed over to the DRC Government in Rusura village, Busasamana sector in Rubavu district.
Mbanza’s identification documents and recovered ammunition (including one sub machine gun, 173 rounds of ammunition and six complete magazines) were retained by officials from the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM).
Col Gabriel Ntirandekura, the team leader of the JVM said that a thorough investigation about the incidence would be conducted and a full report compiled.
During an interview, RDF Spokesperson Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita said RDF soldiers acted in self defence.
Nzabamwita said that one RDF soldier was injured in the process and is currently admitted at Kanombe Military Hospital.
However, the DRC army spokesman, Colonel Olivier Hamuli, claimed that Rwandan troops had targeted a Congolese commando on Saturday when he refused to stop after being spotted on Rwandan territory, having crossed the frontier to buy beer.
Hamuli said Rwandan troops opened fire and killed one of the commando’s men. Congolese forces then returned fire and killed a Rwandan soldier, he added.
RDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita said the Congolese soldiers had crossed the border to carry out a reconnaissance mission.
He said it was the Congolese troops which first opened fire and that, while one Congolese soldier was killed, the Rwandan soldier was only injured.
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