BURUNDI GOVERNMENT CLOSES ITS BORDER WITH RWANDA, ALLEGING NEIGHBOR OF SUPPORTING REBELS

Fri 12 January 2024:

After accusing Rwanda of assisting rebels over two weeks ago, President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi closed the country’s border with Rwanda on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Local media on Thursday cited Martin Niteretse, Burundi’s Minister of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security, as saying, “We have closed our borders with Rwanda.” The minister said that his country was cutting off diplomatic relations with Rwanda, closing its border, and deport its nationals.

Although the closure of Burundi’s border with Rwanda represents a recent spike in hostilities, it is not entirely unusual. Both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2015, both countries blocked their borders as a result of political unrest. However, in 2020, the two sides began rebuilding their diplomatic relations, ending in the reopening of the crossings in 2022.

In reaction, Burundi’s unilateral border closure was resented according to a statement issued by Rwanda’s Office of the Government Spokesperson on Thursday night.

“The government of Rwanda has learned through media reports of the unilateral decision by the government of Burundi to again close its borders with Rwanda. This unfortunate decision will restrict the free movement of people and goods between the two countries, and violates the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community,” the statement said.

In late December, Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda of hosting RED-Tabara rebels who claimed responsibility for an attack on Dec. 22 in the border region between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that left 20 people dead and nine others injured.

The accusations were made in a live program on a local radio station on Dec. 29, during which Ndayishimiye said, “Members of this rebel group (RED-Tabara) are hosted, fed and taken care of by Rwanda. They are offered money and working offices by that country.”

However, Rwanda rejected the accusations.

“The Rwandan government rejects comments by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye alleging Rwandan support to Burundian armed rebel groups based in eastern DRC. Rwanda is not associated, in any way, with any Burundian armed group,” said a statement from the Office of the Government Spokesperson.

“The government of Rwanda urges the government of Burundi to address its concerns through diplomatic channels where they can be amicably resolved,” the statement said.

The RED-Tabara rebel group is based in eastern DRC and has been battling Burundi’s government since 2015.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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