The United States accused Rwanda of involvement in a deadly attack on a camp for displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which Rwanda denied.
At least nine people were killed in blasts at the Mugunga camp on the outskirts of Goma.
The US strongly condemned the attack and expressed concern over the expansion of Rwandan forces and the M23 group in DR Congo.
The US has called on all states to respect each other's sovereignty and hold accountable actors for human rights abuses in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
DR Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya accused the Rwandan army and its M23 supporters of being responsible for atrocities.
Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo dismissed these claims as "ridiculous," stating that the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF) would never attack an IDP camp.
She instead blamed the lawless Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Wazalendo, who are operating in Congo's east and fighting alongside the Congolese army, for such atrocities.
The FDLR is an armed ethnic Hutu group that has been operating in Congo for 30 years, while Wazalendo is fighting the M23.
On a Friday morning, witnesses reported government forces bombarding rebels in DR Congo's eastern region, leading to M23 retaliation with indiscriminate bombing.
The result was civilian casualties, including children, prompting strong condemnation from both the DR Congo government and the US.
The US accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while France urged Rwanda to cease support and withdraw troops.
In response, Rwanda demanded action against Hutu forces in DR Congo for their ties to Rwanda's 1994 genocide perpetrators.
The origin of the blasts remains unclear, but tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda continue to escalate.
The United States has attempted to act as a mediator in the tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Rwanda.
In November 2021, US intelligence chief Avril Haines visited both countries and proposed a plan to reduce tensions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in 2021, expressing hope for diplomatic engagement between the two nations.