Off the wire
• EU sends election observers to Uganda ahead of Feb. 18 polls  • Greek gov't, airliner condemn racist incident in Athens airport  • 1st LD Writethru: Gold down on positive U.S. data  • FLASH: 1 GUNMAN KILLED IN ATTACK ON FOREIGN TOURISTS' HOTEL IN EGYPT'S HURGHADA: MEDIA  • 1st LD Writethru: Shooter who wounded Philadelphia police officer says he is IS sympathizer  • Urgent: Gold down on positive U.S. data  • Finland decides to extradite suspected Russian hacker to U.S.  • Interview: U.S. scientists thrilled to receive China's top science honor  • Spanish stock market falls 1.66 pct, closes at 8,909 points  • Portugal's parliament approves restoration of 4 public holidays  
You are here: 　 Home

African leaders to probe reports of Rwanda supporting Burundi rebels: mediator

Xinhua, January 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

African leaders are set to investigate claims by Burundi that neighboring Rwanda is supporting rebels to topple the government.

Crispus Kiyonga, the mediator of the peace talks between government and the opposition told reporters on Friday that regional leaders during their imminent summit will investigate the claims which Rwanda has denied.

"It's true that Burundi officials including ministers have accused Rwanda of either assisting the armed opposition or facilitating them. The truth will be found out and a solution in case there is a problem," Kiyonga who is also Uganda's defense minister said.

Burundi accuses Rwanda of backing members of the opposition alliance National Council for the Restoration of Arusha Agreement and Rule of Law, known by the French acronym "CNARED".

The government implicated CNARED members for being behind the failed May coup attempt that aimed to stop President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.

It also implicated CNARED for being behind attacks on security forces and recruiting refugees from the neighboring countries into armed rebellion.

The political violence and fighting in Burundi erupted in April last year after Nkurunziza declared his bid to run for a controversial third term, which opposition described as against the country's constitution and the 2005 Arusha accord that ended years of civil war.

Regional countries headed by Uganda are leading efforts to end the fighting. Endit