Rwanda says two soldiers detained in Congo have been released

(Reuters) – Two Rwandan troopers captured by Democratic Republic of Congo’s military final month and accused by Congolese authorities of supporting a insurgent offensive have been launched, Rwanda’s navy stated on Saturday.

Congo stated the 2 troopers have been detained inside its territory, which it cited as proof Rwanda is backing the continued offensive by M23 rebels. On Thursday, it escalated its accusations, blaming Rwanda for sending 500 particular forces in disguise into jap Congo.

Rwanda has denied any involvement within the M23 assaults and stated the 2 troopers have been kidnapped by Congolese forces inside Rwanda.

The escalating dispute has resurfaced outdated animosities between the neighbours. Rwanda invaded jap Congo twice within the Nineteen Nineties. On a number of events since then, Congo and U.N. consultants have accused it of backing militias in jap Congo to advance its pursuits — costs Kigali denies.

The 2 troopers have been launched following mediation by Angolan President João Lourenço, the Rwanda Defence Power (RDF) stated in a press release.

“The RDF is happy to announce that the 2 troopers at the moment are safely again in Rwanda,” it stated.

Congo’s authorities spokesman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The M23 has over the previous month been waging its most sustained offensive in Congo’s jap borderlands since 2012-2013, when it captured huge swathes of territory earlier than being pushed again by Congolese and U.N. forces.

The group’s identify refers back to the March 23 date of a 2009 accord that ended a revolt by a predecessor militia in jap Congo. The M23 accused the authorities of not residing as much as guarantees to completely combine the militia’s members into the military and authorities.

Rwanda denies enjoying any position within the M23’s current assaults, however has echoed M23 costs that Congo is collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group run by ethnic Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating within the 1994 genocide.

Congo and Rwanda accused one another on Friday of firing rockets throughout their shared border, together with a strike that Congo’s military stated killed two Congolese kids.

(Reporting by Aaron Ross; enhancing by Clelia Oziel)