Two Congolese soldiers were killed on Monday and five others injured in an attack by rebels from the
March 23 Movement
(M23) group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the army said.
Since April, a serious crisis opposes Kinshasa and Kigali, due to the resurgence in eastern DRC of the former Tutsi rebellion of the M23 defeated by the Congolese army in 2013.
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On Monday morning, "
cannon shells fired by M23 terrorists fell around the FARDC (Congolese army) position in Bugusa
" in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province, on the border with Rwanda, writes l army in a statement.
"
The balance sheet on the FARDC side is two soldiers killed and five wounded
," said General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the military governor, in this press release.
"
Faced with this situation and the belligerent intentions of the M23, the armed forces (...) have continued to shell the positions of the M23 terrorists since the early hours of this Monday
," he added.
“
The use of long-range guns demonstrates the support the M23 enjoys from its natural ally
added the officer without giving further details.
On Sunday, during a trip to neighboring Congo-Brazzaville, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi said he had "
no doubt
" about Rwanda's support for this rebellion that had come to "
attack
" his country, while repeating his wish to maintain peaceful relations with its neighbours.
The government in Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23, which fierce fighting opposed the DRC army at the end of May.
Kigali denies, but in retaliation, Kinshasa suspended flights on its territory from the Rwand'Air company and summoned the Rwandan ambassador to notify him of a "
severe warning
".
