This was announced on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, through the Rwandan military’s social media accounts, shortly after reports began circulating about the soldier’s arrest.

This information came after the Burundi National Defence Force (FDNB) issued a statement Wednesday,  24 September  2025, saying the soldier had been apprehended in Busoni commune in Butanyerere province, in the area formerly known as Kirundo, at around midnight.

Soldier, who is a driver, had crossed the Rwanda–Burundi border via an unofficial route on the RN14 road, at the Gasenyi–Nemba border. He was then apprehended by police stationed at the border.

According to the Burundian army, in his explanation, the soldier said he had come from a bar near the Gako military camp in Rwanda and lost his way.

In its statement, the Rwandan military said: “ Today, 24 September 2025,  Sgt. SADIKI Emmanuel, a driver with the RDF, Inadvertently strayed across the Gasenyi–Nemba border into Burundi and was arrested by Burundian police.”

The RDF added that the soldier is currently being held at the Kirundo Police Station in Busoni Commune, Butanyerere Province.

In the same statement, RDF expressed that it “regrets this border incident” and will use appropriate diplomatic channels with the Government of Burundi to ensure the soldier’s return.

Relations between Rwanda and Burundi are currently strained, largely due to conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have undermined regional unity and security. However, tensions between the two neighbouring countries date back to the attempted coup in Burundi in 2015 against President Pierre Nkurunziza, after which relations deteriorated significantly.

Burundi claims that the 2015 coup plotters (RED Tabara) are based in Rwanda and supported by the Rwandan government However, Rwanda denies all these allegations made by Burundi.

See RDF’s statement here:
https://x.com/RwandaMoD/status/1970895880875278632