On social media, news continues to spread that the government of Burundi has decided to close all land borders between Rwanda and Burundi.
This information refers to the decision announced by the Minister of Local Government in Burundi, Martin Niteretse, when he addressed the residents of Kayanza province, in Burundi.
Those who use the border have been told to cross, whether they are going to Burundi or Rwanda, because after this Thursday, January 11, no one is allowed to use the land border.
The closure of this border follows the words of the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, accusing Rwanda of supporting the Red Tabara fighters against his regime.
On Friday, December 29, last year, President Évariste Ndayishimiye, during an interview with the media, said that the fighters of RED Tabara are supported by Rwanda.
This was condemned by the Government of Rwanda, which issued a statement on Friday night, December 29, saying that the comments of President Ndayishimiye alleging Rwandan support for Burundian armed rebel groups based in Eastern DRC is not true, as Rwanda is not associated with any Burundian armed group in any way.
In a statement, the Government of Rwanda reminded the Government of Burundi, in the spirit of mutual cooperation, that it has previously handed over, through the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, Burundian combatants who illegally crossed into Rwanda.
The border between Burundi and Rwanda was last closed between 2015 and 2021.
When President Ndayishimiye came to power, relations between Rwanda improved, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame went to Bujumbura for the East Africa Community Head’s of State meeting.