The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) on Tuesday claimed to have shot down two drones belonging to the Rwanda Defence Force and “their allies” after they entered Congolese airspace in eastern DR Congo.

The drones were downed in Mikenge “after they illegally violated Congolese airspace in the Minembwe area,” FARDC said on X.

“This act of aggression constitutes a new provocation and a violation of the Washington Accord,” it said, adding that the Congolese forces “remain vigilant, disciplined, and ready to defend” DR Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rwanda did not immediately respond to DRC's statement.

M23 rebels advanced across several areas of the eastern province of South Kivu after an agreement DR Congo signed in Washington with Rwanda on December 4.

DRC-Rwanda tensions

The rebel group controls significant territory, including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu, which it seized earlier in 2025.

The Congolese government and the United Nations accuse the neighbouring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo, an allegation Kigali denies.

The US sanctioned Rwanda’s military and four of its senior officers on March 2, accusing them of backing the M23.

In response, Kigali said it regretted the sanctions as “one-sided" and defended its military.