Suspected militants shoot at bus in southwestern Rwanda, kill two

19 June 2022 - 15:43 By Reuters
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Congolese riot policemen attempt to control civilians participating in a demonstration towards the border between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda during a protest to support the Congolese army, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo June 15, 2022.
Congolese riot policemen attempt to control civilians participating in a demonstration towards the border between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda during a protest to support the Congolese army, following renewed tensions around Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo June 15, 2022.
Image: REUTERS/Stringer/ File photo

Two people were killed and six were injured when suspected militants opened fire on a bus in southwestern Rwanda, Rwandan police said.

Saturday's attack, which killed the bus driver and a passenger, was carried out by the National Liberation Front (FLN), the armed wing of the anti-government Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), the police said in a statement.

"Armed thugs, suspected to be remnants of FLN operating from across the border, shot at a public passenger bus," the Rwanda National Police said late on Saturday.

The police were tracking down the assailants in the incident on the Nyambage-Rusizi road in the district's Nyungwe Forest, they added.

The government has said the FLN had launched attacks from the Nyungwe forest area close to the Burundi border in 2018.

In April, the Rwandan government upheld a 25-year prison sentence for Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed in the movie "Hotel Rwanda" sheltering hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide, for his involvement with MRCD.

He was convicted in September on eight terrorism charges, which he denies.

Reuters

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.