President Ndayishimiye accuses Rwanda of supporting the Red Tabara armed group, based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, against his government.
Rwanda's government says Burundi had decided to close its border with the East African nation, weeks after its president accused Kigali of harboring a rebel group.
In late December, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda of harboring and training the Tabara Rojo rebel group, which claimed responsibility for an attack near Burundi's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). . Rwanda has rejected his accusations.
A Rwandan spokesman said Thursday that the government learned of Burundi's border closure through media reports, adding that it violated the principles of a regional bloc of which both are members.
“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,” said Yolande Makolo.
“Today we closed the borders and whoever goes there will not pass,” Burundian Interior Minister Martin Niteretse said Thursday, according to local media.
Burundi has said the December attack killed 20 people, while Red Tabara said on social media platform X that it killed nine soldiers and one police officer.
Red Tabara has been fighting the Burundian government from bases in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2015.
Regional breaks
Relations between some nations within the East African Community (EAC) – which also includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia – have been frosty for years.
Uganda and Rwanda have reopened their border posts after a three-year closure sparked by Kigali's claim that Kampala was supporting dissidents to overthrow the Rwandan government.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the armed group M23, which has led to the displacement of millions of Congolese. From 2022 to 2023, the EAC deployed soldiers to fight the group and dozens of others operating in Africa's second-largest country by landmass, but Rwandan soldiers were excluded.
United Nations and European Union experts have also cited evidence of Kigali's support for the M23, but Kigali denies the allegations. Angolan efforts to mediate between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have failed.
In December, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi escalated the situation further during a campaign event.
“I've had enough of invasions and Kigali-backed M23 rebels,” Tshisekedi said. “If I am re-elected and Rwanda persists… I will ask parliament and Congress to authorize a declaration of war. We will march on Kigali. Tell Kagame that those days of toying with Congolese leaders are over.”
