The political row between South Africa and Rwanda continued to grow. The countries issued tit-for-tit diplomatic expulsions over disagreements about the attempted assassination of an exiled Rwandan general in Johannesburg.

“Kigali expelled eight South African diplomats, after Pretoria gave three Rwandan officials 72 hours to leave the country, diplomatic sources said,” reports Business Standard.

South Africa suspects the Rwandans of being linked to an assassination attempt on former Rwandan army boss Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, who now lives in South Africa

Armed men stormed Nyamwasa’s house “looking for him” the opposition Rwanda National Congress reported. This was the third attempt on his life.

“Tensions deepened after Kigali’s former intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya, who was also exiled in South Africa, was found strangled to death in a Johannesburg luxury hotel on New Year’s Day,” reports the Business Standard.