RWANDA-BURUNDI SPAT

…Rwanda accuses Burundi of instigating a youth revolt against Paul Kagame

KIGALI - Burundi has been accused of trying to instigate a Rwandan youth revolt to overthrow President Paul Kagame's regime, as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate.

Rwanda said Burundi's President Évariste Ndayishimiye made "inflammatory statements" when addressing a youth gathering after the inauguration of Felix Tshisekedi's second term as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"For anyone to try and undermine this progress by calling on young Rwandans to overthrow their government is troubling.

But for a leader of a neighbouring country to do so from an African Union platform is deeply irresponsible and a flagrant violation of the African Union Charter," the Rwandan government said in a statement.

It is alleged that Ndayishimiye, acting in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Youth, Peace and Security, "made several baseless and incendiary allegations aimed at inciting division among Rwandans and further jeopardising peace and security in the Great Lakes Region".

Burundi, on the south, closed its land border with Rwanda in December last year after accusing the latter of aiding RED

Tabara rebels.

RED Tabara is based in eastern DRC, launching attacks into Burundi.

In December, they claimed responsibility for an attack that left 20 dead in Gatumba, the Mutimbuzi district in west Burundi's Bujumbura province, near the border between Burundi and the DRC.

The rebels have been fighting the Burundi government since 2015.

Rwanda also has strained relations with its eastern neighbour, the DRC, due to the M23 rebels causing instability in North Kivu, DRC.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, addressing the Umushykirano gathering which brings Rwandans from all walks of life together, Kagame urged his people to be up for any challenge.

"As Rwandans, we cannot be complacent. We have unique challenges. We are a small country, with a modest economy. But there are no small people, unless they want and accept to be small. In the last 30 years, Rwandans have proven that a country and a people can rise from the ashes of a genocide.

"That is why, as Rwandans, we cannot do business as usual, we cannot afford to feel comfortable about anything. We don't have that luxury.”