KIGALI, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Two Rwandan soldiers who were arrested on Sunday by the soldiers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for allegedly entering into DRC's territory and on suspicion of attempted espionage have been released, the Rwandan army said Tuesday.
The two Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) soldiers from the 11 Infantry Battalion accidentally strayed into DRC's territory from the bordering district of Rubavu in Western Rwanda while on border patrol, Innocent Munyengango, Rwandan military spokesperson, told Xinhua Tuesday.
"Our soldiers were arrested within about 10 meters inside the DRC by Armed Forces of DRC (FARDC). They crossed into the DRC territory by mistake because they were newly deployed along Rwanda-DRC border. They had no bad intention or espionage of sort," said Munyengago.
He said the incident was caused by the lack of clear border demarcation between Rwanda and the DRC, adding that common cross-border incidents have previously happened to DRC soldiers and between 2016 and 2018, Rwanda voluntarily handed over 34 DRC soldiers to DRC authorities who had strayed into the Rwandan territory.
According to a RDF statement, the RDF and the DRC army, together with the Great Lakes Region Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), handled the incident amicably and the two Rwandan soldiers were handed over back to RDF authorities in Rubavu district on Monday.
The soldiers were released after a subsequent probe by EJVM found out that they meant no harm and had simply crossed the borderline by mistake because they had just been deployed at the border, said the statement.
EJVM is a multi-national force established under the auspices of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region to provide professional and objective findings regarding incidents on the common borders of member states, especially those involving DRC borders.
There have been border skirmishes between DR Congo and Rwanda over the years.
The Rwandan army in February said three soldiers of DRC were killed in a fire exchange when the latter attacked an army position in northern Rwandan district of Musanze. While DRC accused Rwandan soldiers launched an incursion into its territory.
In 2014, Rwanda accused the FARDC of firing a rocket on its territory in Bugeshi Sector, Rubavu district, Western Province. The rocket did not cause any casualties.
In 2013, Rwanda said FARDC fired over 60 projectiles on Rwandan territory, killing and injuring civilians, including women and children.
