APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Burundi’s Minister of Interior, Community Development and Public Security, Martin Niteretse on Thursday declared that all border crossing between the East African country and Rwanda has been closed with immediate effect.
In a meeting with Kayanza Province (North) officials, the Burundian official said: “We have determined that we have a bad neighbour, President Kagame”.
Burundi shares a border with Burundi for 290 km.
Burundian officials say the RED-Tabara rebel group staged an attack on December 22 near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing 20 people, including women and children.
Burundian Evariste Ndayishimiye has since accused Rwanda of backing the rebels — a claim denied by the Rwandan government.
Burundi and Rwanda have had sour relations for the past eight years.
Relations between them further strained in 2015 following a political crisis in Burundi over the late President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term. The coup attempt in Burundi was subjected to tensions between them as Burundi accused Rwanda of hosting General Godefroid Niyombare who attempted to overthrow Nkurunziza along with many opposition leaders who may have played a direct or indirect role in the coup plot and in facilitating the coup plotters’ actions.
The political instability between Rwanda and Burundi is arguably related to the prevalence of armed groups in the region.
CU/abj/APA