Burundi’s president, Évariste Ndayishimiye, told the BBC that he has received “credible intelligence” suggesting that Rwanda is planning to attack his country. He also accused Rwanda of attempting a coup in Burundi a decade ago, similar to its current actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwanda has responded by calling the president’s remarks “surprising” and emphasizing that both countries are cooperating on border security, despite the border having been closed for over a year. Although the UN has presented substantial evidence, Rwanda continues to deny supporting the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of significant parts of eastern DRC alongside Rwandan troops.
Ndayishimiye also claimed that Rwanda is backing the Red Tabara rebel group, which he described as a proxy force designed to destabilize Burundi, similar to the M23. He added, “They would say it’s an internal issue when in fact it’s Rwanda causing the problem. We know Rwanda has a plan to attack Burundi.” He asserted that the people of Burundi would resist such an attack but reiterated that Burundi has no plans to attack Rwanda and seeks a resolution through dialogue.
Ndayishimiye emphasized the importance of honoring a peace agreement signed between the two nations but claimed that Rwanda has failed to uphold it. He alleged that Rwanda had supported the 2015 coup attempt in Burundi by training and arming rebels and sending them to neighboring countries.
“We are calling on our neighbors to respect the peace agreements. There is no need for war. We want dialogue, but we will not remain idle if attacked,” Ndayishimiye said. He accused Rwanda of having ulterior motives similar to its involvement in the DRC and noted that the border remains closed after attacks from the Red Tabara rebels.
While the situation with Rwanda is dire, Burundi also faces challenges to the west. The conflict in DRC, fueled by rebel groups, militias, and external actors vying for control of the country’s resources, has escalated. Ndayishimiye criticized the international community for prolonging the conflict, stating that the root cause of the crisis in DRC is not the people, but the desire to exploit the country’s minerals.
The president suggested that the solution lies in engaging all parties, including opposition and armed groups, in dialogue to build a better future for all citizens. However, he believes that Rwanda’s willingness to cooperate will determine the success of this process.
He also pointed out that the tensions between Rwanda and DRC could be resolved without resorting to violence, questioning the rationale behind Rwanda’s military actions in DRC. “Rwanda says they’re going into DRC to fight the FDLR [a Rwandan rebel group], but the ones being killed are Congolese,” he remarked.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have sought refuge in Burundi. Despite the perilous journey, including crossing the Rusizi river, Ndayishimiye denied that the Burundi-DRC border is closed, stating that refugees are welcome to return to their country if they choose. However, he emphasized that refugees in Burundi are treated as guests and must respect the country’s rules.
Ndayishimiye also argued that international forces in DRC should be given a broader mandate to engage with the rebels and insisted that Burundi’s forces will remain in DRC until the security of its borders is assured. This follows the announcement by southern African leaders earlier this month that their forces would be withdrawn from DRC after at least 19 soldiers were killed in the conflict.
