Mabayi : a large quantity of food intended to supply Rwandan rebels intercepted

Soldiers on patrol in the Kibira natural reserve in Gafumbegeti village, in the Butahana zone of Mabayi district, Cibitoke province (northwest Burundi) arrested five people in possession of more than five tons of corn flour, rice and beans. It was a supply to the Rwandan rebels who are fighting against Kigali. The district administrator indicates that the suspects have already been handed over to justice. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Three tons of corn flour, one ton of beans and one ton of rice heading towards the vast natural park were intercepted in Gafumbegeti village, on the edge of Kibira, in the Butahana zone last Monday.

In all likelihood, it was a supply intended for the Rwandan rebels installed in this immense natural forest.

One of the soldiers who participated in this operation said that “this is a business developed through certain traders and Imbonerakure (members of the youth league of the CNDD-FDD party) who collaborate day and night with these rebels against Kigali established in the forest for almost a decade”.

The same source also indicates that these rebels benefit from the complicity of certain military, political and administration authorities, in a context of diplomatic tension between the two countries.

“These rebels exploit several gold deposits in Kibira as their main financial resource and easily buy food thanks to the money collected from this gold exploitation,” adds our source, in a tone of regret.

Similarly, another military source speaks of a macabre project of these rebels who shuttle between DR Congo and Burundi via the river Rusizi in Buganda district to launch attacks on Rwanda from the Burundian soil considered as their rear base.

“It is for this reason that we have been extra vigilant in recent times and this has allowed us to get our hands on these tons of food.”

This traffic had almost disappeared since the arrest and imprisonment of the former administrator of Mabayi last November and certain traders and young people from the CNDD-FDD party all known for their collaboration with these Rwandan rebels.

The latter, according to residents living near Kibira, “have the habit of stealing from households to obtain supplies and even commit murders among peaceful populations.”

The same residents urge the police and security forces to put out of harm’s way ”these troublemakers who want to provoke a war between the two sister nations whose populations are united by cultural, linguistic and historical ties ”.

For his part, the district administrator asks all residents of Mabayi to denounce any action by the rebels and to work in synergy with the police.

The official in charge of military operations in Kibira warns certain administration officials, traders and young people from the ruling party who are collaborating with these Rwandan rebels.

According to the senior officer of the FDNB (Burundi National Defense Force), the latter must be brought before the judicial authorities to be judged in accordance with the law.