Freight and pedestrian movement has stopped between two East African neighbours after Burundi closed its border with Rwanda following its claim that Rwanda was behind a recent attack in southern Burundi by militants.
The accusation about its involvement in the attack, which killed civilians, was made by Burundi’s President Evaniste Ndayishimiye two weeks ago.
Rwanda denies any involvement in the attack by the ’Red Tanaba’ militants based in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The relationship between the neighbours has been frosty for some time as the border had only been opened in October 2022, following a seven-year closure over the same issues regarding the militants.
Rwanda is also under fire from the DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi who is accusing it of fuelling militia attacks against his government – an allegation that Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has also denied.
