BUJUMBURA, January 24th (ABP) – The Government of Burundi learned with stupefaction of the “unfounded and untrue” allegations, knowingly attributed to the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, through a press release from the Rwandan government made public on January 22 2024, based on disinformation skillfully maintained by the propagandists of the Rwandan regime.
Through that press release from the government of Rwanda, Rwandan authorities accuse President Ndayishimiye that during his meeting with Congolese youth in his capacity as Champion of the African Union (AU) for youth, peace and security, on January 21, 2024, the day after the inauguration ceremonies of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, he made several allegations aimed at inciting division among Rwandans and further jeoparadizing peace and security in the Great Lakes Region.
Stunned by the said press release issued by the office of the spokesperson for the government of the Republic of Rwanda, the government of Burundi made public, on Tuesday January 23, 2024, a press release through which it refutes those allegations and informs both national and international opinion that such allegations are the work of ill-intentioned minds that propagate a miasma of disinformation which isolates, from the true context, the remarks issued by Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Indeed, the champion of the African Union for the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, responding to the concern submitted to him on the non-participation of young Rwandans in regional meetings, committed to organizing an exchange framework for young people and made an appeal for their inclusive participation, in accordance with his noble mission of promoting the development of African youth, the press release continued to say.
According to the government of Burundi, those allegations constitute propaganda by the Rwandan government which aims to distract national and international opinion to camouflage the real problem existing between Rwanda and Burundi. “The government of Burundi reaffirms its firm attachment to the principles of non-interference in the home affairs of States even to the extent it is coupled with reciprocity,” they revealed through the press release.
However, the government of the Republic of Burundi regrets that despite the diplomatic efforts made since October 2020, the Rwandan government has never honored the commitment such as that of extraditing the 2015 coup plotters, mastermind of the Red-Tabara terrorist group which continues to mourn Burundi, which constitutes an attitude that violates the requirements of the Charter of the African Union and the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation for the DRC and the region.
The government of Burundi recalls that this terrorist group has already claimed responsibility for the massacres against innocent people, the majority of whom were women and children in Kabarore, Ruhagarika and Gatumba, and the launching of grenades in public places such as markets and public transport. Furthermore, the government of Burundi deplores the recruitment of refugees at Mahama Camp toward the Red-Tabara terrorist group, in collusion with the Rwandan government.
Last but not least, the government of Burundi calls the international community to keep an eye on all these repetitive acts of aggression orchestrated by the Rwandan government against Burundi, in violation of the principles required for good neighborliness, and Burundi only expects from the Rwandan government the extradition of the 2015 coup plotters, mastermind of the Red-Tabara terrorist group.
“Under the enlightened leadership of the President of the Republic, Evariste Ndayishimiye, the government of Burundi reaffirms its commitment to working for peace, security and regional stability,” they reassure through that press release signed by the Secretary General of the State, Mr. Jérôme Niyonzima.