EngRegional
DRC’s continued violation of Rwanda’s territorial integrity recipe for disaster
ARDC NCO Sgt Tumahini Kalamira & his belongings at 3Div HQs
In
2022, Rwanda saw a series of provocations violating its territory from its
neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Congolese Sukhoi-25 fighter
jets violated Rwandan airspace three different times.
The
first of such incident occurred on November 7, 2022, when a Sukhoi-25 warplane
violated Rwanda’s airspace, briefly touching down at Rubavu airport in Western
Province. The Congolese jet's incursion was one of the many provocations
following the cross-border shelling of Rwandan territory with a 122mm BM-21
multiple rocket launcher system on March 19, May 23, and June 10.
The
Congolese government later admitted its warplane violated Rwanda’s airspace and
claimed that the incident happened "accidentally." A second incident
happened on December 28 when a jet of the same type again violated Rwanda’s
airspace.
On
January 24, 2023, for the third time, a Congolese Sukhoi fighter jet entered
the Rwandan territory and the Rwandan army shot at it. Following each of these
repeated violations, the Rwandan government issued statements, urging the DRC
to stop the transgressions that are clearly against the spirit of Luanda and
Nairobi peace initiatives.
Kigali
has consistently said that the sour relations with DR Congo should be settled
through dialogues and mechanisms established by the Luanda roadmap and the
Nairobi process. Unfortunately, Kigali’s demands fell on deaf ears.
The
DRC continued to violate Rwanda’s territory, in new ways. On May 27, 2023,
Rwandan authorities apprehended, Sgt Tumahini Kalamira, a soldier of the
Congolese army, FARDC, who had crossed the border illegally from DRC, to Rwanda
in Rubavu District.
Armed
to the teeth; with a Kalashnikov rifle, a machete, and a knife, the Congolese
soldier claimed to have been confused by the unclear borderline between the two
countries and ended up on Rwandan territory.
Had
it been only one such incident, it could not have raised alarm.
But
in the past six months, Rwanda has recorded several other cases.
In
August, September and November 2022, and March, April and May 2023, several
Congolese soldiers illegally crossed into Rwanda. The incidents escalated to a
point where an armed Congolese soldier crossed the border, opening fire and
shooting at Rwandan soldiers manning the border.
The
recurring excuse of all these Congolese soldiers is that the borderline is not
clear.
But
that is a lie. Although the Goma-Rubavu common border is too close, just like
any borderline in the region, it is not identical to a point where a soldier of
any of the two countries can claim to have traversed unknowingly.
The
Congolese are misleading international opinion when they claim ignorance of the
demarcations of the common border. this clearly shows that their actions are
deliberate and just another form of violating Rwanda's sovereignty and
territorial integrity by Kinshasa.
The
Congolese army and its allies, especially the Rwandan genocidal militia, FDLR,
have been responsible for several attacks on Rwanda's territory claiming the
lives of innocent civilians.
In
June 2022, two rockets were shelled on Rwandan territory, in Musanze District.
The shelling by the Congolese army was the third in less than four months.
Prior to that, two similar incidents also happened in March and May in Musanze
and Burera districts, leaving several civilians injured and lots of property
damaged.
It
is no secret that DRC’s excuse for these provocations is some sort of payback.
Kinshasa and its allies continue to allege that Kigali is supporting the
Congolese rebel group, M23.
Rwanda
has on numerous occasions denied the accusations, stating that the conflict in
eastern DRC is an internal problem.
Nevertheless,
Kinshasa still finds it easy to scapegoat Rwanda.
The
continued provocations by FARDC soldiers, whether drunk or have lost their way
along the common border, can be seen as an act of war.
Even
though Kigali has stressed that it has no intention of being drawn into an
intra-Congolese matter, Kinshasa’s actions, if unrestrained, could cause
turmoil in the region.
If
Congolese soldiers continue to violate the territorial integrity of Rwanda, it
could be recipe for disaster. No one knows when, Rwanda which has repeatedly
appealed to the DRC to observe good neighborliness, own up to her problems, and
avoid apportioning blame where none exists, could decide to stop sending
diplomatic notes verbale and retaliate.
