Burundi’s leader alleges ‘credible intelligence’ of Rwanda’s plan to attack

Burundi’s president Évariste Ndayishimiye has raised alarms over what he claims is “credible intelligence” suggesting that neighboring Rwanda is planning to attack his country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Ndayishimiye also accused Rwanda of involvement in past instability, alleging that Rwanda supported a 2015 coup attempt in Burundi and continues to back rebel groups destabilizing his nation. He expressed concern that Rwanda’s actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it has been linked to the M23 rebel group, could be a precursor to further aggression against Burundi.
“They would say it’s an internal problem when it’s Rwanda that is the problem. We know that he [Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame] has a plan to attack Burundi,” the country’s president said. Despite these claims, Rwanda swiftly dismissed Ndayishimiye’s allegations as “surprising” and emphasized that the two countries are cooperating on security measures along their shared border, which has been closed for over a year. Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, called for calm, stressing the need for military de-escalation and dialogue between the two neighbors.
Ndayishimiye, however, reiterated that Burundi does not intend to provoke conflict but will defend itself if attacked. “Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters,” the president stated. He also highlighted the importance of respecting existing peace agreements and called for Rwanda to take responsibility for its alleged support of rebel groups, such as the Red Tabara, which are accused of carrying out attacks on Burundian soil. Ndayishimiye’s comments reflect the growing tensions in the region, with the conflict in eastern DRC further complicating relations between Rwanda and Burundi. Both nations face significant challenges as they navigate these complex security concerns, with the international community watching closely.