Eyewitnesses speak out on DR Congo warplane incursion

THE NEW TIMES.

When a Sukhoi-25 fighter jet from DR Congo violated Rwanda’s airspace on Tuesday, January 24, and got shot at, residents of Rubavu District who witnessed the first-hand account of the incident narrated to The New Times how it all went down.

Life in Rubavu town, according to eyewitnesses, was not interrupted despite a blast they heard and others saw.

According to the Mayor of Rubavu District, Ildephonse Kambogo, people should not panic as security organs keep doing their job and security is granted.

“People should understand that security organs are there for them, they should keep on with their businesses as normal,” he told The New Times.

Mussa Ndagijimana, a trader, said: “We are not worried about these continuous Congolese incursions. We are a safe country. Before the shooting happened, we noticed two fighter jets taking off from Goma airport and entering Rwandan airspace, we were a bit scared but, in a few minutes, everything turned normal. We ask our government to tighten our security.”

Another eyewitness, Jane Uwamariya, a shopkeeper said: “I saw fighter jets flying into Rwanda and back to DR Congo. One had been hit and was releasing smoke on its way back to DR Congo. These fighter planes normally fly over the skies in pairs. This time, it was visibly clear that they had entered deeply into the Rwandan territory.

Cyprien Bizimana, a cyclist, also said that he saw the warplanes entering Rwandan territory. “one jet kept coming back and eventually we heavy blast.”