GITEGA, BURUNDI — Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has publicly accused Rwanda of planning an imminent attack on his country, citing “credible intelligence” and alleging a history of Rwandan interference in Burundi’s affairs.
In an interview with the BBC, Ndayishimiye asserted that Rwanda had orchestrated a coup attempt in Burundi a decade ago, drawing parallels to its current involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “They would say it’s an internal problem when it’s Rwanda [who is] the problem. We know that he [Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame] has a plan to attack Burundi,” Ndayishimiye stated.
Rwanda has dismissed the accusations as “surprising,” maintaining that both nations are collaborating on border security despite the year-long closure of their shared border. Rwanda continues to deny allegations of arming and supporting the M23 rebel group, which has seized significant territory in eastern DRC alongside Rwandan forces. Similarly, Rwanda rejects claims of backing the Red Tabara rebel group, which Ndayishimiye describes as a Rwandan proxy force destabilizing Burundi.
“Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters. But now we don’t have any plans to attack Rwanda. We want to resolve that problem by dialogue,” Ndayishimiye emphasized.
He called for the full implementation of past peace agreements between the two nations, alleging that Rwanda has failed to honor its commitments. “The people who did the 2015 coup [were] organised by Rwanda, and then they ran away. Rwanda organised them – it went to recruit the youth in Mahama camp. It trained them, it gave them arms, it financed them. They are living in the hand of Rwanda,” he alleged. Ndayishimiye added, “If Rwanda accepts to hand over them and bring them to justice, the problem would be finished.”
“We are calling on our neighbours to respect the peace agreements we have made. There is no need for us to go to war. We want dialogue, but we will not sit idle if we are attacked. We don’t have anything to ask [of] Rwanda [in return], but they refuse because they have a bad plan – they wanted to do what they’re doing in the DRC,” he further stated.
The Rwanda-Burundi border remains closed following Red Tabara rebel attacks on Burundian soil. Meanwhile, the conflict in eastern DRC exacerbates regional tensions, with Ndayishimiye accusing external forces of exploiting the region’s mineral wealth.
“External forces are responsible for perpetuating this conflict. They do not want peace in the DRC because they want to continue looting its resources. The crisis in the DRC is not about the people – it is about the minerals,” he asserted.
Ndayishimiye advocated for inclusive dialogue involving all DRC political and armed factions, but emphasized that Rwandan cooperation is crucial. “The problem between Rwanda and the DRC is a small problem, they can resolve it without killing people. For example, I hear that Rwanda says it is going there [to DRC] because of the FDLR [a Rwandan rebel group accused of links to the 1994 genocide]. But who [is being] killed? All I see is Congolese – why do they kill Congolese when they say they are looking for FDLR?” he questioned.
The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of Congolese, with some seeking refuge in Burundi, often undertaking perilous river crossings. Ndayishimiye denied closing the DRC border, stating, “No, our border with the Congo is not closed. Where did they pass to come into Burundi? Even today they can use [the Rusizi river] to go back.”
Regarding the dangerous crossings, he stated, “You know, we didn’t invite them. They can go back, we will not refuse them to go back. But when they are here, they are as our visitors. If a visitor comes your house – it’s you who chooses the room where he will stay. Even the food they have is what we share. They can’t say I will eat meat when you are eating fish.”
Ndayishimiye called for an expanded mandate for international forces in the DRC and affirmed Burundi’s continued military presence until its borders are secure. This comes after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced the withdrawal of its forces from the DRC.
