Tensions High As Rwanda Shoots at Congolese Fighter Jet
DRC Has Described The Shooting As an act of War
Tensions are currently high between the government of the Republic of Rwanda and that of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after an alleged Shooting of a Congolese fighter Jet Sukhoi- 25 by Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) on the evening of Tuesday 24 January 2023 owing to an alleged violation of Rwanda’s Air space. The Congolese Government responded to the shooting of the fighter jet as an act of War.
A video widely shared on Congolese social media showed a projectile shooting towards an airborne military plane, before exploding in the air near the plane, which continued to fly. The Congolese Government denied Rwanda’s accusation that the jet had been in Rwandan airspace – the latest dispute between the two countries whose relationship has been strained by a rebel insurgency.
“The RDF (Rwanda Defense Forces) fired at the fighter jet from DRC that violated Rwandan airspace in Rubavu — same area as previous violations,” Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a statement. Makolo said the jet violated its airspace at 5:03 p.m. local time, prompting the government to take defensive measures against it. “Rwanda asks the DRC to stop this aggression,” she said.
“The Rwandan shots were directed towards a Congolese aircraft flying within Congolese territory,” it said in a statement, confirming the plane had landed in the provincial capital Goma without suffering major damage.
The incident is the latest dispute between the two countries whose relationship has been strained by a rebel insurgency. It described Rwanda’s move as a “deliberate act of aggression that amounts to an act of war” aimed at undermining a peace agreement to end an offensive by the M23 rebel group.
Congo, United Nations experts and Western powers have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 in eastern Congo, which seized several towns and villages in renewed fighting last year. Rwanda has denied any involvement.
An unarmed Congolese warplane also briefly landed at a Rwandan airport in November while on a reconnaissance mission near the border, in what Congo said was an accident.
