Tanzania Brands Burundi Complaints against Rwanda ‘Flying Rumors’

Accusations that Burundi and International community impose on Rwanda have been dismissed and disqualified as ‘flying Rumors’ according to Tanzania Foreign Minister Augustine Mahiga statement in Kigali on Thursday.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame shaking hand with Foreign Minister for Tanzania as the two met at the State House Kigali on Thursday. Photo: PPU

Burundi and international community accuse Rwanda of training Burundian refugees in Rwanda to form a rebel group to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government, an allegation Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo had said lacks ‘Political maturity.”

Last week, Rwanda announced its decision to work with development partners to start relocating thousands of Burundian refugees it hosted since last year, with foreign Minister Mushikiwabo saying the country could not bear ‘more politicking on the issue’ of Burundi.

Speaking to journalists after holding talks with President Kagame at his office in Kigali, Minister Mahiga said he sympathizes with Rwanda’s decision.

Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga (R) speaking to Journalists at the State House Kigali on Thursday. Photo: PPU

“I understand the very agonizing decision that Rwanda is considering because it’s been a basis of flying rumours, criticism and counter criticism,” Mahiga told journalists.

He said Burundi should not keep putting Rwanda alone in the same political and refugee situation.

“This is not a unique situation to Rwanda. It is a common thing when you are hosting refugees in those kind of numbers,” Mahiga said, referring to his country as one of the hosts of Burundian refugees facing similar challenges.

“We have identified some elements that belong to the Burundi military…we have also arrested some elements engaging some recruitments and we had to take them to court and jail them,” said Mahiga.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Mushikiwabo told the press that part on the table of discussions with President Kagame focused on Burundi issue.

Rwanda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo (L) with Ambassador Augustine Phillip Mahiga Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tanzania | Kigali, 18 February 2016 Photo: PPU

“When Rwanda and Tanzania meet, we discuss Burundi. It is a problem of the day. The issue in Burundi which has been going on for almost one year now was part of the discussions we have had with Foreign Minister of Tanzania,” she said.

“We regretted that the problem has not been resolved and our wish is to see Burundi get back on track,” Mushikiwabo said.

Minister Mahiga asserted his sympathy for Rwanda in dealing with the issue.

“I sympathise, understand the predicament Rwanda is facing and with the judicious and enlightened wisdom of President Kagame, this matter is being shared with the International community” Mahiga remarked.

Rwanda hosts over 100,000 Burundian refugees on its soil since the political turmoil in Burundi last year.