KIRUNDO August 2nd (ABP) – The Rwandan army handed over to the Burundian authorities on Friday, July 30, 2021, 19 Burundian criminals who were arrested on Rwandan soil. That work took place on the Burundian-Rwandan border of Gasenyi-Nemba, a check by ABP revealed.
The representative of the Rwandan delegation, Brigadier General Vincent Nyakarundi, indicated that those criminals were arrested on Rwandan soil on September 29, 2020 after having committed crimes in Burundi.
Brigadier General Nyakarundi indicated that Rwanda is determined to ensure security on the borders of the two countries in order to deter criminals who can compromise the good ties which are beginning to be observed. He is delighted with the mutual understanding between the two countries, saying it is a sign of hope that relations will be renewed.
The representative of the Burundian delegation, Colonel Ernest Musaba, warmly thanked Rwanda, which has shown its willingness to renew good relations with Burundi by handing over those Burundian criminals who have threatened the security of their country. Colonel Musaba recalled that this decision to hand over the criminals had been Burundi’s wish for a long time, specifying that in 2019 the security forces of Burundi handed over to those of Rwanda the Rwandan fighters arrested on Burundian soil via the Ruhwa border in the presence of members of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM).
He said those criminals arrested in Rwanda will be brought to order in accordance with Burundian law, adding that they will be transferred to a rehabilitation center to benefit from teachings related to patriotism.
On his part, the Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) in the Great Lakes Region, Dr Richmond Tiemoko, thanked the military authorities of both parties who have engaged in this peacebuilding process and security in the Great Lakes Region in general and between the two countries in particular. He stressed that the UN is there to support these positive advances in diplomacy between Burundi and Rwanda.
Note that firearms including 17 AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher and several cartridges held by those criminals were handed over to the Burundian army.