Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has alleged that Rwanda is planning an attack against his country, citing what he described as “credible intelligence.” His statement comes amid ongoing tensions in the Great Lakes region, where Burundian forces have been engaged in battles against Rwandan-backed rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ndayishimiye did not provide further details regarding the alleged attack but expressed hope that diplomatic channels could help defuse the situation. Speaking in an interview, he directly pointed fingers at Rwandan President Paul Kagame, stating, “We are aware of his plan to attack Burundi.”
The Burundian leader emphasized that his country would not stand by idly, referencing the ongoing violence in eastern DRC. “Burundians will not accept to be slaughtered as we are witnessing in Congo. The Burundian people are resilient fighters,” he said.
In response, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe dismissed the accusations as regrettable, calling for calm and restraint. He stated on social media that both governments had engaged in discussions and agreed on the importance of reducing military tensions and avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.
The remarks from Ndayishimiye highlight the broader regional stakes in the eastern DRC conflict, where the M23 rebel group has intensified its operations since the beginning of the year, seizing vast areas and causing thousands of casualties. The escalating violence has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, reminiscent of the 1998-2003 war in the DRC that saw the involvement of multiple foreign armies.
The United Nations has accused Rwanda of supplying arms and deploying troops in support of M23, allegations that Kigali strongly denies. The Rwandan government insists that its military presence is purely defensive, aimed at countering threats posed by Congolese forces and hostile militias.
Burundi, for its part, has maintained a military presence in eastern Congo for years, targeting Burundian rebel groups operating in the region. According to military and diplomatic sources, Burundi withdrew the majority of its 12,000 troops from the DRC in February.
Despite the rising tensions, Burundian and Rwandan officials have held multiple meetings in recent weeks to ease hostilities. According to sources familiar with the talks, an agreement was reached preventing the Rwandan army and M23 rebels from occupying the Congolese city of Uvira, which lies near Burundi’s economic hub, Bujumbura.
Both governments have confirmed the ongoing diplomatic engagements, though they have refrained from disclosing specific details about the discussions.
