The Minister made the remarks during an interview with the media outlet Ukwelitimes, which focused on Rwanda’s relations with neighboring countries, including Burundi, where both sides had initiated dialogue to seek solutions to existing tensions.

Ambassador Nduhungirehe explained that following the fighting in eastern Congo particularly in Goma and Bukavu when the M23 captured both cities talks were initiated between Rwanda and Burundi at the latter’s request.

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He said these discussions were intended to ease the long-standing tensions between the two nations and explore the possibility of reopening their borders. “However, when you look at the border issue, it wasn’t really the main concern,” he said. “The real issue is the involvement of Burundian troops in the war in eastern Congo, where they are fighting alongside the Congolese army and other armed groups such as the genocidal FDLR and the Wazalendo militias, destabilizing eastern Congo.”

He said that the talks took place in February and March of this year but were later suspended due to Burundi’s conduct in these matters. “As Burundian troops increased their presence in eastern Congo, the Burundian government sent additional forces,” he explained. “We believe this is not the right path because it undermines the implementation of the Washington Agreement, which emphasizes a ceasefire and political dialogue as means to resolve the conflict and end the war in eastern Congo.”

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Minister Nduhungirehe added that Burundi ignored these principles and instead expanded its military deployment in Congo now numbering over 10,000 troops and that the city of Bujumbura is being used as a logistics hub for military supplies destined for that conflict. “That’s where things stand. The problems have not been resolved, but what we wish is for Burundi to take steps to support the ongoing peace talks and avoid adding fuel to the fire, because that won’t lead us down a positive path,” he said.

Before Burundi decided to close its border with Rwanda, it had accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel group RED-Tabara, which fights the Burundian government. However, Nduhungirehe categorically denied the allegations, calling them an attempt to divert attention from Burundi’s own actions.

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“Those are blatant lies,” he said. “They’ve been repeated many times, but there is not a single piece of credible evidence. It’s just an attempt to change the narrative and distract from what they are doing in eastern Congo by accusing Rwanda of backing RED-Tabara or trying to destabilize Burundi. That’s simply not true.”

Nduhungirehe noted that although Rwanda and Burundi are both members of regional organizations such as the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU), there is currently no mediator facilitating efforts to normalize their relations.

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He said that, ideally, the two countries should be able to sit down and talk, given that they are neighbors and even share a common language. “But as of now,” he added, “there are no talks neither under the EAC framework nor through any other mediator taking place between Rwanda and Burundi.”

Rwanda has consistently stated that it seeks peaceful and friendly relations with all countries, particularly its neighbors, and that whenever there are issues between Rwanda and another nation, it remains committed to resolving them through dialogue.