Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has once again made a strong warning, vowing to swiftly retaliate if Rwanda carries out an offensive on his country. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ndayishimiye has rejected the genocidal allegations made by Rwandan government and proposed direct talks as a lasting solution over the ongoing hostilities in eastern DR Congo.
This statement comes after recent efforts by Rwanda and Burundi to restore their long-strained diplomatic ties, which had raised hopes that the two neighboring countries would finally end hostilities after a decade of tensions
Speaking to the BBC, Ndayishimiye again accused Rwandan government of planning invasion of Burundi but this time through the Red Tabara, a rebel movement fighting against Burundian government.
“We know that Rwanda is attempting to attack us via the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, using the RED-Tabara rebel group. But we tell them that if they plan to attack Bujumbura via Congo, then for us, Kigali is not far if we go through Kirundo,” President Evariste Ndayishimiye warned.
Earlier 2024, the Burundian government closed its borders with Rwanda, neighboring country, accusing it of backing the RED-Tabara rebel group and carrying out attacks on Burundi.
In the interview, President Ndayishimiye has repeatedly claimed to receive reliable intelligence information indicating that Rwanda has a plan to attack Burundi but did not provide the evidence over the claims. “We know they want to use Red Tabara to attack Burundi, just as they are doing in DR Congo with M23. Burundians are ready.” he insisted.
He said that if this were to occur, the war could escalate and spill over the entire region.
“Rwanda does not seem to know peace unless it is provoking conflicts. It has already had disputes with Uganda and Tanzania… Now, it is at war in DR Congo while also preparing to attack us.”
Rwanda has denied any links to the resurgent Red Tabara rebel group, which President Ndayishimiye has described as a proxy force, similar to the M23, and supported by Kigali to destabilize Burundi. Meanwhile, the group has also denied receiving support from Rwanda, stating in a post on X: “RED-Tabara does not receive any support from Rwanda. Our struggle is supported only by the Burundian people.”
In response, the Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, called President Ndayihimiye’s allegations “unfortunate”, saying in a post on X: “This statement by HE the President of Burundi is unfortunate, especially since the military and intelligence authorities of the two countries are currently in discussion, and have even agreed on the need for a military and verbal de-escalation.”
Meanwhile, President Ndayishimiye has confirmed that he has sent various emissaries to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in a bid to implement the agreements they reached to revive the long-time strained relations between the two eastern countries.
“Since 2020, we have held extensive discussions with Rwanda and eventually reached agreements on what needed to be done. However, when it came time for Rwanda to implement them, it did nothing.” he said. Despite the failed efforts, Ndayishimiye is still waiting for the feedback.
The Burundi-Rwanda diplomatic tensions have mounted since 2015 after a foiled military coup against the late president Pierre Nkurunziza. Since then, the government has accused Rwanda of harboring the coup plotters and providing financial and military support to those who attack the country, especially the armed rebel group Red Tabara, which has carried out multiple attacks from eastern Congo against Burundi in recent years. Rwanda has consistently denied these allegations.
According to Ndayishimiye, the long-term resolution lies in Rwanda’s hands. “If Rwanda accepts to hand over them and bring them to justice, the problem would be finished.”
Burundian president has also responded to the recent allegations on collaborations with FDLR, a UN-sanctioned militia with links to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He strongly refuted these allegations, calling them “smearing” and a tactic used by Rwanda to carry out an offensive after dehumanizing him.
In recent days, Rwanda’s Minister of Regional Relations, James Kabarebe reportedly claimed that the President of Burundi met with some Congolese ethnic groups and urged them to kill members of the Banyamulenge community.
“Minister James Kabarebe is someone I know personally, and he knows the kind of person I am. But for him to tarnish my reputation like this, stripping me of my dignity, is truly disappointing”.
The president’s statements come amid escalating tensions in eastern Democratic Congo between the government forces and M23, a rebel movement allegedly backed by Rwanda. The conflict has so far claimed thousands of lives and forced thousands of others to flee the country.
To end the growing hostilities in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, President Evariste Ndayishimiye called for inclusive and direct negotiations involving all sides as a lasting solution. He has revealed that he had direct talks with his Congolese counterpart, urging him to initiate talks with all parties involved in the conflict to find a lasting and peaceful resolution.
“What benefit is there in letting people massacre each other, only to come to the negotiating table after countless deaths? This is unacceptable. Talks should come first, and war should be the last resort,” Ndayishimiye said.
This article has been updated to include a statement from RED -Tabara
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