Civilians cheer as they escort a military ambulance carrying the body of a Congolese soldier who was killed in a clash near an area where the army is fighting M23 rebels, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
Democratic Republic of Congo restricted the hours of border crossings with Rwanda on Friday after a Congolese soldier was shot dead while attacking border guards inside Rwandan territory.
The Central African neighbours have been locked in a diplomatic crisis since rebels that Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting launched a major offensive in eastern Congo last month.
SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Congolese soldiers and civilians receive the body of a Congolese soldier was killed in a clash near an area where the army is fighting M23 rebels, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
Rwanda denies Congo's allegations that it supports the M23 rebels, whose leadership hails from the same Tutsi ethnic group as Rwanda President Paul Kagame, or that it has sent troops into eastern Congo.
Congo's government ordered that the border with Rwanda to close each day at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), several hours earlier than usual, from Friday on, according to a statement from the office of South Kivu's governor.
The border will continue to open each morning at 6 a.m., the governor's office said.
A Congolese woman reacts during a protest demanding the body of a Congolese soldier who was killed in a clash near an area where the army is fighting M23 rebels, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
Two Rwandan police officers were wounded when the Congolese soldier crossed the border and opened fire, before an officer on duty fired back and killed him 25 metres inside Rwanda, the Rwandan military said in a statement.
Congo's government said it was investigating the incident.
(Corrects to show border was closed from 3pm to 6am daily)
Civilians cheer as they escort a military ambulance carrying the body of a Congolese soldier who was killed in a clash near an area where the army is fighting M23 rebels, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
(Reporting by Djaffar Sabiti in Goma and Stanis Bujakera in Kinshasa; Additional reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana in Kigali; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by James Macharia Chege and Philippa Fletcher)
Congolese policemen guard the border crossing point with Rwanda after a Congolese soldier was killed in a clash near an area where the Congolese army is fighting M23 rebels, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi
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