NAIROBI, March 25 – Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has accused Rwanda of plotting an attack against his country, citing what he described as “credible intelligence.” The allegations come amid ongoing tensions in the region, where Burundian forces have been engaged in battles against Rwandan-backed rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ndayishimiye, speaking in an interview with the BBC, directly implicated Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the alleged scheme but did not provide specific details. He expressed hope that the situation could be defused through diplomatic efforts.
“We are aware of his plan to attack Burundi,” he stated. “Burundians will not stand by while their people are killed as we have seen happen in the DRC. Burundians are fighters.”
Rwanda has firmly rejected the claim, with Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe calling it “unfortunate.” In a post on X, he noted that both nations had engaged in discussions and agreed on the necessity of reducing both military and rhetorical hostilities.
The accusations add another layer to the volatile situation in eastern Congo, where M23 rebels have seized large areas since January, leading to thousands of deaths. The conflict has reignited fears of broader instability, reminiscent of the 1998-2003 war that drew multiple African nations into battle.
The United Nations has reported that Rwanda has supplied arms and troops to M23, an allegation Kigali denies. Rwanda maintains that its military actions are defensive, countering threats from Congolese forces and hostile militias.
Burundi, which has long deployed troops in the DRC to combat Burundian rebels, withdrew most of its 12,000-strong contingent in February, according to military and diplomatic sources. Meanwhile, officials from both nations have held multiple meetings in recent weeks, negotiating terms to prevent Rwandan troops and M23 fighters from advancing into Uvira, a key city near Burundi’s economic hub, Bujumbura. While both governments have confirmed these discussions, they have refrained from disclosing specific agreements.
