Off the wire
• Armenia reports casualties amid border tension with Azerbaijan  • Russian, Turkish presidents discuss Syria truce over phone  • Carlos Tevez joins China's Shanghai Shenhua  • Estonian gov't approves climate policy principles 2050  • Urgent: UN Envoy welcomes announcement of nationwide ceasefire in Syria  • Zambia gov't to purchase cargo ships for Mpulungu Harbor  • China Focus: China inaugurates another two SPC circuit courts  • Gold price closes higher in Hong Kong  • FLASH: UN ENVOY ON SYRIA WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF NATIONWIDE CEASEFIRE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION  • Hong Kong stocks close 0.17 pct higher  
You are here: 　 Home

Burundian Army denies reports of soldiers' incursion on DR Congo's territory

Xinhua, December 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Burundian Army on Thursday denied reports of an incursion of its soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during which Burundian soldiers were killed.

"Some media and social networks reported tendentious information on clashes, a week ago at Kiliba on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, between Burundian soldiers and Congolese soldiers. This is not right," Burundian Army Spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza told a press conference.

According to him, Burundi and DR Congo are enjoying "good diplomatic relations as well as military cooperation."

Col Baratuza indicated that the commander of the first military region (on Burundi's side) is in regular contact with his counterpart in eastern DR Congo.

"We exchange information and collaboration is good," said Col Baratuza.

Last week, some media and social networks reported that at least 10 Burundian soldiers had been killed by Congolese soldiers (FARDC) in a fighting that took place at Kiliba on Dec. 21 and 22.

Those media and social networks indicated that the killed soldiers were wearing uniforms of the Burundian army.

The Burundian army spokesman said the killed people were criminals who had fled the east African nation with military uniforms in the aftermath of the May 13, 2015 failed coup plot and who were preparing to attack Burundi. Endit