At least two suspected smugglers have been shot dead by Rwandan borderguards as they tried to cross from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, a senior local administrative official confirmed on Tuesday.
The Mayor of Rubavu district, Gilbert Habyarimana said a man identified as Jean Damascene Ndayisaba is among the victims who attempted to return back to Rwanda from DRC before being intercepted by a military patrol on the Rwandan side.
According to him, the incident happened at Murambi village which is commonly known as “Diaspora” at the porous border points, in northwestern Rwanda.
The incident occurs after vigilance by the Rwandan army was tightened in the region to prevent Hutus mitilias operating mainly in eastern DR Congo from crossing through mainly porous entry points.
Currently about 7,000 people cross the Rwanda-DR Congo border each day through the border post commonly called Grande Barriere on the Rubavu-Goma frontier.
Some 45,000 people cross another Rubavu-Goma border post commonly called Petite Barriere daily.
In a recent report, the United Nations has expressed concern over the continued existence of rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a movement linked to the 1994 genocide.
CU/as/APA