BURUNDI: Burundi Releases Rwandans, Complains Its Citizens Held In Kigali

Burundi has released some Rwandans held incommunicado after Kigali appealed to the Bujumbura government, while accusing its northern neighbour of detaining its citizens on similar suspicions of espionage.

Dozens of Rwandans are being held in Bujumbura and Cibitoke on suspicion that they were spying for the Rwandan government. 14 of the more than 30 Rwandan nationals who were arrested in Burundi were released last week.

Burundi in turn says Rwanda is detaining its citizens on similar accusations. At least 29 Burundians are thought to be held by Rwandan authorities on suspicion of spying for Bujumbura.

The Burundian ambassador to Rwanda Alexis Ntukamazina confirmed to The EastAfrican that Burundian nationals are being detained in Rwanda but said that the two governments are working together to see how they can be released.

“Yes, I can confirm that we are aware of some Burundians who are detained in Rwanda and we are working to see how this matter can be resolved,” said Mr Ntukamazina, without specifying the number or reasons they were arrested.

“As you might have seen in the media, some Rwandans who were detained in Burundi have already been released. I am confident the remaining ones will be released too. We are brothers and sisters and we believe this matter will be resolved in a short time,” he added.

The Rwanda National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Celestin Twahirwa could not confirm the development, instead referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to sources, the Burundians were arrested between April and August after they were suspected of spying for the Burundian government.

“Most of them came in masquerading as refugees, but they would later be suspected or found to be spies or members of Imbonerakure (a pro-government militia group) who were sent to spy on fellow countrymen seeking refuge in Rwanda,” a Burundian refugee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Diplomatic ties between Rwanda and Burundi have not been good over the past months after Kigali expressed concern over the violence in the country.

Burundi in turn accused Rwanda, which is hosting over 70,000 Burundian refugees, of allowing opposition members a safe haven to regroup and wage war against the government.

Bujumbura has accused Kigali of supporting rebel groups planning to wage war against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government, accusations that the Rwandan government has vehemently denied.

The two countries previously shared warm relations and depended on each other for cross-border trade while social relations thrived.