Rwanda reopens border with DR Congo

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

GISENYI, Rwanda (AFP) — Rwanda reopened its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, further reducing tension between the two countries, immigration officials in Gisenyi, one of the two main Rwandan border towns, announced.

Rwanda closed the border in early June after fighting in the eastern DRC once again pushed the neighbouring states to the brink of war.

"The border has been open since 7.00 am (0500 GMT) as planned," immigration services official Habib Nkera Gutabara told AFP on Saturday.

Kigali closed the border on June 6 after the DR Congo government accused Rwanda of being involved in the seizure by dissident soldiers a few days earlier of the eastern DR Congo town of Bukavu.

The Rwandan government had said that the closure of the border...