The Rwandan government has confirmed that it shot a warplane belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC for violating its air space. A video circulated of a projectile shooting a Sukhoi-25 fighter plane. Other videos and pictures also circulated of Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers putting off the fire using firefighting vehicles at Goma Airport.
The incident is the latest to raise tensions among the two neighboring countries whose relations have been rocky in recent months over M23 rebels battling government troops in eastern Congo.
Fresh fighting erupted between government forces and M23 rebels Tuesday morning in eastern Congo in several areas in the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru near the town of Kitshanga located some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from North Kivu’s provincial capital Goma.
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, a charge Rwanda denies.
