Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has alleged that Rwanda is plotting an attack on his country, citing what he describes as “credible intelligence.”
In an interview with the BBC, he also accused Rwanda of orchestrating a failed coup in Burundi nearly a decade ago, drawing parallels to Rwanda’s current involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwanda swiftly dismissed the accusations, calling them “surprising” and asserting that both countries have been cooperating on security matters.
The border between the two nations has remained closed for over a year.
Despite mounting evidence from the United Nations, Rwanda has consistently denied providing support to the M23 rebel group, which has seized significant territories in eastern DRC alongside Rwandan troops.
Likewise, Rwanda refutes any connection to the Red Tabara rebel group, which Ndayishimiye claims is a proxy force being used to destabilize Burundi.
“We are aware that President [Paul] Kagame has a plan to attack Burundi,” Ndayishimiye said.
“But we will not stand by and allow Burundians to be killed like the Congolese.
Our people are fighters.” However, he emphasized that Burundi had no intention of initiating an attack against Rwanda, expressing a preference for resolving the issue through dialogue.
The Burundian leader also revisited claims that Rwanda was responsible for the failed 2015 coup in his country, alleging that Rwanda recruited and trained rebels who later fled to its territory.
He stated that the issue could be resolved if Rwanda extradited those responsible.
“The problem would be solved if Rwanda agreed to hand them over and allow them to face justice,” he said.
The tensions between the two countries remain high, with the Burundi-Rwanda border still closed following Red Tabara rebel attacks on Burundian territory.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC continues to escalate. President Ndayishimiye attributed the violence to foreign actors exploiting the region’s vast mineral wealth.
He called for a comprehensive peace process involving all political and armed groups, insisting that Rwanda must be willing to engage in meaningful negotiations.
“The conflict in DRC is not about the people; it’s about control over minerals,” he said. “External forces are fueling this crisis because they want to continue looting resources.”
He questioned Rwanda’s justification for military action in DRC, noting that Congolese civilians, rather than the targeted Rwandan rebel group FDLR, are the primary victims.
As violence intensifies, thousands of Congolese refugees have fled into Burundi, with some risking their lives by crossing the dangerous Rusizi River.
While some claim the Burundi-DRC border is closed, Ndayishimiye refuted this, arguing that refugees can return at any time.
“For the war to end, international forces in DRC must be given the mandate to actively engage the rebels,” he said, adding that Burundian troops will not withdraw until its borders are secure.
Earlier this month, leaders from Southern Africa announced their decision to pull their troops out of DRC after suffering significant casualties in the fight against M23 rebels.