Tensions are flaring in East Africa after Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye accused neighboring Rwanda of plotting an attack on his country, warning that Kigali is repeating the same destabilizing tactics it has allegedly used in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a recent interview with the BBC, President Ndayishimiye said his government had gathered “credible intelligence” indicating that Rwanda was planning a direct assault on Burundi. He further accused Rwanda of supporting the Red Tabara rebel group—an insurgent faction he likened to the M23 rebels in the DRC, who have seized significant territory in recent months with suspected Rwandan backing.
“They say it’s an internal problem, but we know the truth,” Ndayishimiye stated. “We know President Kagame has a plan to attack Burundi. But let me be clear—Burundians are not passive people. We are ready to defend ourselves, but we are not looking for war. Dialogue remains our priority.”
The allegations, though not entirely new, have reignited longstanding tensions between the two nations. The border between Rwanda and Burundi has remained closed for over a year following a series of Red Tabara attacks inside Burundi. The Burundian government has since accused Rwanda of funding and arming the rebel group to undermine its stability.
Rwanda has denied any involvement, calling Ndayishimiye’s claims “surprising,” and emphasized that both countries had been collaborating on joint border security initiatives.
But Ndayishimiye insists that the Rwandan government continues to harbor and support those behind the 2015 attempted coup in Burundi. “Those who organized the coup were recruited, trained, and armed in Rwanda,” he said. “If Rwanda would hand them over to justice, this issue could be resolved.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, President Ndayishimiye stressed that his administration is not seeking confrontation. Instead, he is calling for the full implementation of prior peace agreements between the two nations—a request that, according to him, Rwanda has so far failed to honor.
“We’re not demanding anything new,” he said. “We’re simply asking for the respect of commitments already made. But we won’t stand by if our sovereignty is threatened.”
The president also linked the crisis in Burundi to the wider conflict in eastern DRC, where he claims external forces are fueling violence to exploit the region’s mineral wealth. “This war isn’t really about the Congolese people—it’s about their resources,” he said. “Some actors don’t want peace because war allows them to continue looting.”
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Ndayishimiye questioned Rwanda’s justification for its military presence in Congo, particularly its stated aim of targeting the FDLR, a Rwandan rebel group accused of participating in the 1994 genocide. “If they’re looking for the FDLR, why are Congolese civilians the ones dying?” he asked. “That’s not a solution—it’s an excuse.”
As fighting intensifies in the DRC, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Burundi. Some Congolese refugees have risked their lives crossing the treacherous Rusizi River—by swimming or using makeshift rafts—in a desperate bid for safety. Tragically, some haven’t survived the journey.
Asked whether the border with DRC was closed, Ndayishimiye dismissed the claim. “Our border is open. If people managed to enter Burundi, they can certainly return home the same way,” he said. He also made clear that while the refugees are welcome, Burundi can only offer what little it has. “They are our guests, and like any guest, they live as we do. If we eat fish, they eat fish—not meat.”
Looking ahead, the Burundian leader called for stronger international involvement in Congo and expanded mandates for peacekeeping forces that would allow them to confront the rebels. He also pledged that Burundian forces stationed in eastern Congo would not be withdrawn until Burundi’s security is fully guaranteed.
His comments come as regional troop withdrawals from the DRC are already underway, following deadly clashes between rebel groups and regional forces—at least 19 soldiers were killed earlier this month.
While the prospect of renewed conflict between Burundi and Rwanda looms ominously, President Ndayishimiye’s message is clear: Burundi does not want war, but it will not be blindsided.
“We want peace, and we’re willing to talk,” he said. “But if we are attacked, we will defend our people.”
