Burundi Closing Borders with Rwanda

The government of Burundi has started closing its common borders with Rwanda, Chimp Corps report.

The development comes less than a fortnight after Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye publicly accused his northern neighbour of supporting and maintaining Burundian terrorist groups, especially Red Tabara, which have been carrying out attacks in his country. 

Burundi’s Minister in charge of Internal Affairs Martin Niteretse on Thursday announced the closure of the border during a trip to the northern province of Kayanza (north).

Burundi had initially closed its three borders with Rwanda in 2015 after accusing Rwanda of harbouring dissident Burundian military officials accused of masterminding a failed coup against the then former President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame had refused to hand over the fugitives to Burundi for trial.

The border was reopened in 2022 following an improvement in bilateral ties between the two countries.

The closure of the border underscoring the escalating tensions between the two landlocked countries.

Ndayishimiye last year said, “Rwanda has been providing food, money, offices, shelter and training facilities to Red Tabara.” 

The militants claimed responsibility for the deadly attack that left 20 people dead in December in Gatumba, Mutimbuzi district in west Burundi’s Bujumbura province, near the border between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Rwanda speaks out

Rwanda denied claims of Rwandan support for Burundian armed rebel groups based in Eastern DRC.

“Rwanda is not associated, in any way, with any Burundian armed group.It should be recalled that, in the spirit of mutual cooperation, the Government of Rwanda has previously handed over, through the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, Burundian combatants who illegally crossed into Rwanda,’ Rwanda said in a statement. 

Tensions between Rwanda and Burundi have risen in recent months over Gitega’s support for DRC’s armed forces in the war against Kigali-backed M23 rebels. 

The United Nations recently warned about the possibility of a war between Rwanda and DRC which could drag in Burundi.

Ndayishimiye said Burundi would continue to back the DRC in the war against militia groups.

“We decided to be on the DRC side of DRC because the fire that consumes the DRC is the same fire that can burn us tomorrow,” said Ndayishimiye, a battle-hardened military general.

“I call on all Burundians to mobilise behind DRC because protecting DRC is also protecting Burundi” and accused Red Tabara of killing children and disembowelling expectant mothers.

The Burundian leader described the militants as “terrorists” who must be fought “with all our energy.” 

Burundi’s decision is expected to further complicate the neighbours’ trade links and disrupt the movement of their people in the region. 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) was already providing funding for a Cross-Border Roads Improvement Project to improve connectivity for the landlocked countries, Rwanda and Burundi and link them to two of East Africa’s most strategic corridors – the central and northern corridors, which provide access to the seaports of Dar-es-Salaam and Mombasa, respectively.”

The boundary between the two countries extends from northeastern Rwanda southward through the swamps and lakes of the Kagera River Valley.