Authorities in South Kivu province near the border with Rwanda on Saturday declared an indefinite curfew restricting people to cross the border for some hours during a day over rising insecurity.
The decision which came into force with ïmmediate effect”was announced in a statement issued by the communication department of the provincial governor, Theo Ngwabidje Kasi.
According to the new measures, people will only be allowed to cross the border of Rusizi (South West) from 6.00 am local time (4.00 am GMT) up to 3.00 pm local time (1.00 pm GMT)
Prior to this measure, the borders used to open at 5 a.m. (3.00 am GMT) and closed at 10 p.m (8.00 pm GMT).
Commenting on the new measures, South Kivu Provincial Governor Theo Ngwabidje Kasi explained that this decision has been taken for security reasons and from instruction at higher administration level.
South Kivu province shares three three border crossing points with Rwanda. These include the Ruzizi 1, Ruzizi 2 borders, as well as the Kamanyola border.
Tensions continue on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Earlier Friday, an armed Congolese soldier was shot dead at the Rwanda-DR Congo border in Rubavu after he entered Rwanda and indiscriminately fired at border and security personnel on duty.
He was shot by a Rwanda National Police officer on guard at around 8:45a.m (6.45 am GMT), a Rwandan military statement said.
The situation escalated between the DRC and Rwanda after a rebel group, called M23, captured the DRC border town of Bunagana on Monday, June 13. Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the rebel group.
Rwanda has always refuted the “baseless accusations”.
CU/abj/APA