DR Congo war: Five Rwandan civilians killed in Rubavu, says army

At least five Rwandan civilians were killed and 25 others wounded in the cross-border fighting between Rwandan and Congolese troops in Rubavu, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) has said.

RDF spokesperson Brig-Gen Ronald Rwivanga, said more had been “lightly injured” by bullets and two bombs in Mbugangari, one of the townships on the outskirts of Rubavu town.

Bombs and bullets continued to fly across the common border on Monday following the capture of Goma city in eastern Congo by M23 rebels.

Fear and uncertainty have gripped the residents of the border region as the crisis escalates in North Kivu.

Rwanda has heightened security, with all vehicles and their occupants coming from Rubavu to other parts subjected to thorough security checks outside Musanze.

Rwanda has a heavy military deployment along its borders with DR Congo.

Meanwhile, the UN mission in Congo, Monusco, has struck a deal with the M23 to create safe passage for UN staff, government officials, including Goma municipality leaders and their families fleeing Goma to other parts of DRC, including allowing boats to ferry them to Bukavu in South Kivu province.

Fighters of Wazalendo militia, some Congolese and Burundian soldiers have reportedly surrendered and handed over their arms to Monusco, and subsequently left the war zone into Bukavu and other parts of DRC.

Local media reported that earlier on Monday, some FARDC soldiers crossed the Grand barriere into Gisenyi and surrendered to Rwandan authorities.

On Monday, the UN started evacuating its staff and their families from Goma, targeting 2,000 people. It hired buses to pick up the evacuees from the Rubavu side of the border through the Grand barriere to Kigali, where they will board flights out of the region.