Rwanda plans to attack Burundi, President Evarist Ndayishimiye tells BBC

The Burundi President told the BBC that he had seen “reliable intelligence” that Rwanda plans to attack his country.

Evariste ndayishimiye also said that Rwanda had tried to launch a coup decade ago in Burundi, similar to “What is doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo” now.

Rwanda has already backed away, calling President's comments “surprising” and insisting that the two neighbors are collaborating on the security plans for their shared border, which has been closed for over a yearS

Despite the extensive UN evidence, Rwanda has always denied arming and supporting the M23 rebel group, which recently seized large parts of the eastern Congo along with Rwanda troops.

Rwanda also denied links to the Red Tabara rebel group, which President Ndayishimiye says is a proxy force similar to M23 and is supported by Rwanda to destabilize Burundi.

“They would say that this is an internal problem when Rwanda (who is) the problem. We know that he (Rwanda's President Paul Kagame) has a plan to attack Burundi,” added Ndayishimiye.

“The Burundians will not accept to be killed as the Congojan is killing. The Burundi people are fighters.

“But now we have no plans to attack Rwanda. We want to solve this problem through dialogue.”

At the heart of Ndayishimiye's comments was a call for peace and the full implementation of an agreement between the two nations – a peaceful deal that was signed in previous years, but according to Burundi it was not worshiped by Rwanda.

“The people who made the coup in 2015 (were) organized by Rwanda and then escaped. Rwanda organized them – she went to hire the young people in the Mahama camp. He trained them, this gave them a weapon, they live in Rwanda, he says.

“If Rwanda accepts to hand them over and bring them to court, the problem will be completed.”

Ndayishimiye added: “We urge our neighbors to comply with the peace agreements we have made.

“No need to go to war. We want dialogue, but we will not sit idle if we are attacked.

“We have nothing to ask (from) Rwanda (in return), but they refuse because they have a bad plan – they wanted to do what they do in the DRC.”

The border of Rwanda-Burundi remains closed for a long time after the Red Tabara rebels have made several attacks on the Burundi soil.

Although the situation with Rwanda is critical, this is not Burundi's only problem.

In the West, the continued conflict in the mineral rich, Dr. Congo, reached a boiling point with rebel groups, militias and foreign parties that struggle to control the country's valuable resources.

“The external forces are responsible for immortalizing this conflict. They do not want peace in the DRC because they want to continue to break down their resources,” Ndayishimiye told the BBC.

“The crisis in the DRC is not for humans – but for the minerals.”

The decision, he claims, is to bring all sides of the table, including “all opposition political parties and armed groups” that have to “sit together and see together how they can create the best future for all citizens.”

But according to him, it all depends on whether Rwanda will show a desire.

“The problem between Rwanda and DRC is a small problem, they can solve it without killing people. For example, I hear that Rwanda says it goes there (for the DRC) for the FDLR (a Rwanda rebel group accused of relations with the 1994 genocide).

“But who (is) killed? Everything I see is Congoan – why do they kill Congois when they say they are looking for FDLR?”

Ever since the M23 rebels and troops in Rwanda began to seize cities in East Congo in January, the war has forced many hundreds of thousands of Congoan people to escape from their violence and homes.

They are so desperate to find the safety that some have even crossed the Rusisi River in improvised vessels or swimming to reach Burundi, Despite the dangerous trip, killing many people including a three -year -old childS

Living uncertain in refugee camps, some say they want to return to their country, but complain that the border of Burundi-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Cego is closed. This is something that Burundi President denies.

“No, our border with Congo is not closed. Where did they go to Burundi? Even today they can use (Rusisi River) to return.”

When the BBC said that crossing the Rusisi rivers puts the refugees in a position of danger, Ndayishimiye replied: “You know, we did not invite them.

“They can go back, we won't refuse them to come back. But when they are here, they are like our visitors. If your visitor comes your house – you have chosen the room where he will stay.

“Even the food they have is what we share. They can't say that I will eat meat when you eat fish.”

In order to end the war and the Congoansets to achieve a lasting piece, Ndayishimiye says that the mandate of international forces in the Congo must be expanded so that they can engage the rebels.

He also said that ⁠burundi forces will not be withdrawn from the C Congo until Burundi is sure that his boundaries are safe.

Earlier this month, South Africa leaders have announced that their The forces will be drawn from the e -Congo Where they helped fight the M23 after at least 19 were killed.