A Burundian delegation led by the Minister in charge of East Africa Community (EAC) Affairs, Youth, Culture and Sports Amb. Ezéchiel Nibigira on Monday held talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame to deliver a message from Burundian President Maj. Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye.
This is the latest sign in a series of attempts by both countries to mend their fractured diplomatic relations, with officials describing the current atmosphere as ‘progressive’.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Burundi have deteriorated since 2015.
During that period the two countries traded accusations and counter-accusations of harboring militia forces intent on destabilizing each other.
More recently, however, there has been increasing optimism to mend the strained relations especially after Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente traveled last year to join the country in their 59th Independence Day celebrations.
In September, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Vincent Biruta also met with his Burundian counterpart Amb. Albert Shingiro on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
The two exchanged on matters of bilateral relations between the two countries, and the road to normalization, it said.
Since April 2015, Rwanda has received more than 70,000 Burundian refugees.
Among the refugees, there are politicians who are opposing the current regime, fighting against the recently contested election of President Nkurunziza.
Burundi has been accusing neighboring Rwanda of facilitating and training rebels seeking to destabilize the country.
Rwanda has categorically denied the accusations.
CU/abj/APA