Rwanda-Burundi: Burundi says it has reopened its borders with Rwanda

It is the Burundian foreign affairs minister who announced it on Tuesday. Albert Shingiro, however, reaffirmed the intention of the Burundian government to see Kigali extradite putschists it has hosted since 2015, according to Burundian authorities. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Minister Shingiro said so in the commercial capital Bujumbura on the sidelines of a press conference on the achievements of his ministry between last July and September.

“We have opened borders with Rwanda but we have not waived our precondition that the putchists, hosted and fed in Kigali, be sent to Burundi […], we believe that Rwanda, a brother country, is not going to interchange relations of good neighbourliness, fraternity and cooperation with our country with the maintenance of its putchists in Kigali”, said Mr. Shingiro.

He describes the presumed putschists as “annoying visitors”.

“The putschists are embarrassing visitors for Rwanda. This country must find a way to get rid of them”, added the head of the Burundian diplomacy.

The putschists in question had tried to overthrow the power of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza in May 2015. His last controversial term in office was recently deemed “illegal” by the EAC court of justice.

Borders between Burundi and Rwanda had been closed for almost six years. The situation has been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kigali on its part opened all its borders even on the side of Burundi, several months ago.