Mushikiwabo clarifies on Burundi relations

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo has cast-off accusations that Rwanda is involved in Burundi’s turmoil.

She was addressing journalists on Thursday evening and said that Burundi should stop blaming other countries for its political crisis.

“Burundi’s problem is not Rwanda, Burundi’s problem is Burundi,” Mushikiwabo said.

Mushikiwabo noted that Rwanda is not insensitive to the Burundian problem, “but it’s not our mandate to solve the problem.  I can assure you Rwanda has done all it can do.”

“We have opened our hospitals, we have opened our schools, we eased all the hurdles any refugees can have going to any country,” she said.

According to the Minister, Rwanda believes that the priority in Burundi now is to bring the country back on track and then “shall we able to handle frictions. No blame game”.

More than 120 people have died and 190,000 people have been forced to flee Burundi since April this year, when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced plans to seek a third term in office. Rwanda hosts thousands of refugees fleeing Burundi.

Nkurunziza emerged winner in July elections, which the opposition boycotted saying it broke the terms of the 2005 peace deal that set two-term limits for president.

“We (Rwanda) chose to be slow on this issue to find a way the country will come to peace and we find ways of discussing the matters arising” Mushikiwabo said.

Adding that “You cannot just interfere and think things will be resolved that way. We want it to be resolved as soon as possible. This problem shouldn’t take long so that Burundians can go home and we restore peace in the region.”

Mushikiwabo also said that even when the numbers of refugees have been a problem in itself, Rwanda will provide all the support and help the country has to give the refugees a life in Rwanda.

“It is natural for the Burundi people to run to Rwanda for refuge. Their coming here itself is a problem. No Burundian will be isolated- in case of problems, there is a way we can talk as governments.” she noted.

She also made it clear that the problem on Burundi is for Burundi and not for Rwanda, but a problem for Burundians and their leaders, who should live with the consequences. She however, stated that even with this hard reality, the Burundian conflict is temporary.