Rwanda and DRC end year with frosty relations as new allegations emerge

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By JOINT REPORT

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are trading accusations of alleged territorial violations and espionage, which could dampen hopes of a drop in tensions between the two countries.

On Wednesday, Kigali said a Congolese military plane entered Rwandan territory, the second such incident in more than a month. Kinshasa did not immediately respond, although it acknowledged an earlier violation in November, calling it an unfortunate pilot disorientation.

The spark was ignited on Tuesday after DRC authorities said they were detaining two Rwandans and two Congolese citizens accused of spying for Kigali under the guise of their day jobs.

The four were presented in Kinshasa and described as spies for the Rwandan authorities who operate in Kinshasa under the guise of the NGO African Health Development Organization, AHDO.

According to a note from the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Jean-Claude Molipe, one of the Rwandans is a doctor while the other is a member of the Rwandan Defense Forces.

Mr. Molipe claimed that these spies had infiltrated senior army officers, politicians, economic operators and members of civil society.

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Congolese nationals are affiliated with AHDO. The Rwandans had indeed been arrested in August, which had provoked a diplomatic protest from Kigali. Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta wrote to his Congolese counterpart Christophe Lutundula on November 4 to demand the unconditional release of the two Rwandans. In response to the November incident, the DRC government said its plane unfortunately entered Rwandan airspace and it never intended to violate those of its neighbours.

Read:Rwanda says DRC again violated airspace

Rwanda did not immediately respond to the latest spying allegations but on Wednesday Kigali accused the DRC of violating its airspace. According to a statement, a Sukhoi-25 fighter jet from the DRC violated Rwandan airspace along Lake Kivu in the West Province around noon. Rwanda accuses the DRC of repeated violations, contrary to the spirit of the peace initiatives of Luanda and Nairobi.

DRC authorities appear to be emboldened by constant encouragement from some members of the international community, who repeatedly blame Rwanda for all of the DRC’s ills while ignoring transgressions coming from the DRC, the Rwandan government has said. in a press release published on December 29. .

The Nairobi and Luanda peace initiatives are two peace-seeking processes for the eastern part of DR Congo, which is plagued by war between M23 rebels and the Congolese army. Eastern DRC is also home to dozens of local and foreign armed groups, responsible for several massacres and abuses against civilians.

The Nairobi and Luanda process recommended a ceasefire and de-escalation between the DRC and the M23 rebels, but also to calm tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, which accuse each other of sponsoring rebels against their authorities. The Nairobi process was signed between the DRC government and around fifty armed groups (excluding M23) seeking peace.

The DRC, now joined by France and the United States, has backed allegations that the M23 receives support from Rwanda, a charge that Kigali rejects.

Read also: Rwanda responds to the French claim on the M23

On Tuesday, Congolese officials filed charges against the four people arrested. Molipe said the four had acquired a large amount of land in areas [near] Ndjili International Airport and the Kibomango military base. The airport is the largest in Kinshasa while the base is in the east of Kinshasa, a few kilometers from the city center.

The Deputy Minister of Interior and Security added that the fact that these people had acquired land near the airport suggested that they were preparing for a Machiavellian plan.

The arrested Rwandan soldier revealed having had access to various strategic sites in Kinshasa, in complicity with certain general officers of the Congolese army.

He indicated that investigations are continuing to arrest military or civilian accomplices. With ongoing tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa, there is a risk of damaging the fragile relationship between the two EAC partners.

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