Tensions between Burundi, Rwanda mount

TENSION between Burundi and Rwanda continues to rise and has claimed the lives of more than five people in less than two weeks.

Last weekend, Rwanda Defence Forces spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Rene Ngendahimana announced that an armed group had crossed into Burundi after it had attacked a local patrol team, claiming the lives of two victims on Rwandan soil.

Sources say that flyers were found near the attack site bearing the name of FDD Force for Democracy Defence.

This is an old name for the armed branch of the ruling party, the CNDD-FDD.

Sources inside the Rwandan army, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the attackers are suspected of being members of the Imbonerakure, a group of the ruling party youth seen by the UN as a militia.

Over a week ago, three Burundians were killed while fishing in Cohoha Lake, on the border between Burundi and Rwanda.

“They had crossed the border and were fishing in Rwanda waters,” Burundi police spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye said on his Twitter account, without mentioning they had been killed.

However, Burundi officials blamed the Rwandan army for opening fire on the fishermen, killing three and wounding one.

The Burundi crisis that started in April 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would run for re-election, strained Burundi-Rwanda ties, especially when Rwanda started hosting coup plotters, including General Godefroid Niyombare who led a failed coup. Burundi accused Rwanda of hosting and training rebels.

Rwanda accused Burundi of collaborating with 1994 Rwanda genocide perpetrators who fled to the Congo after the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of more than 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Rwanda said last week it had arrested a man known as Habimana Mbalimo, who, according to sources, went to Burundi to help the ruling party militias Imbonerakure to hunt opponents after the failed coup in May 2015.

At least 330 000 have fled Burundi since 2015, while another 3 000, according to local rights groups, have been killed, mostly by security forces and the militias which are backed by the government. Rwanda and Burundi deny the allegations.

The UN’s refugee agency projects that by the end of 2017, Burundian refugees will surpass 500 000 people in the region and abroad.

Beside those who flee the crisis, the UN said others flee hunger that has claimed many victims.