Rwanda Decries Burundi’s Closure of Common Border

Rwanda has described as “unfortunate” Burundi’s decision to close all its land borders with its northern neighbour.

“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,” said Rwanda in a statement issued on Thursday night.

“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.”

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

Niteretse attributed Burundi’s decision to Rwanda’s “aggressive behaviour,” “supporting terrorists” and “bad neighbourliness.” 

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

Burundi had initially closed its 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.

Interestingly, in February 2019, Rwanda closed its borders with Uganda after accusing Kampala of supporting rebel groups in order to destabilise Rwanda.

The border was reopened in 2022 following the intervention of Uganda’s Senior Presidential Advisor in Charge of Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The closure of the Burundi-Rwanda border underscores the escalating tensions between the two landlocked countries.

Red Tabara

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 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.