Rising Tensions in the Great Lakes: Burundi Accuses Rwanda of Rebel Support

Rwanda and Burundi Border

Burundi's President, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel group RED-Tabara, which is allegedly responsible for recent attacks in Burundi, including a deadly raid on the village of Gatumba near the Burundi-Congo border. This attack resulted in at least 20 deaths, including civilians​​.

President Ndayishimiye claimed that Rwanda has been providing shelter, logistics, and financial support to RED-Tabara, a group that emerged in 2011 and has been active in Burundi since 2015. He accused Rwanda of hosting and maintaining the rebels and also claimed that Burundi had been unsuccessfully negotiating with Rwanda for two years for the extradition of these rebels​​.

In response to these allegations, the Rwandan government has denied any association with the RED-Tabara rebel group. Rwanda has stated that it is not involved with any Burundian armed groups and urged Burundi to address its concerns through diplomatic channels.

The RED-Tabara group, based in South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has denied targeting civilians in their attacks and claimed to be supported only by the Burundian people, not by any country.

This situation has complicated the already tense relations between Burundi and Rwanda. Despite some improvement in relations since Ndayishimiye's ascension to power in 2020, the recent allegations and counter-allegations suggest a renewal of strains between the two neighboring countries.