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Interview: Burundi to sue Rwanda over destabilization acts: minister

Xinhua, March 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Burundian government has decided to sue Rwanda at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its destabilization acts, a senior Burundian official has said.

"We have evidence suggesting that Rwanda, as a state, has violated our sovereignty and dignity of our people. We have that right reserved. Any moment, we might be forced to file a lawsuit at the ICJ against Rwanda," Burundian External Relations and International Cooperation Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe told Xinhua in an interview Tuesday.

According to the minister, the lawsuit will be filed against Rwanda because there has been a failure between both nations to live in "peace and harmony".

"The other reason is that Burundi and Rwanda are both members of the United Nations and have agreed to abide by relevant instruments pertaining to peaceful coexistence. But Rwanda is violating those principles," said Nyamitwe.

He indicated that suing Rwanda is already a "decision and not a plan", and added that the implementation of the decision will come at an opportune time.

Nyamitwe stressed that the Burundian government has evidence that Rwanda has been destabilizing Burundi.

"When I was at the United Nations headquarters last week, I raised the alarm on the acts that are posed by Rwanda against Burundi... and that refugee camps (hosting Burundian citizens in Rwanda) were being manipulated," said the minister.

He added that refugee camps should not "in any manner" be involved in activities that are military in nature.

The Refugees International, a United States-based organization, last year reported that it had documented military training inside refugee camps hosting Burundian citizens in Rwanda.

Earlier this month, the Burundian National Intelligence Service (SNR) showed a suspected Rwandan spy who admitted to be a Rwandan soldier.

However, the Rwandan government said the arrested person had never been a soldier in the Rwandan army.

"They (Rwanda) have never admitted any crime. So it is normal for them to deny that the arrested Rwandan soldier was a spy. They (Rwanda) host coup plotters and coup makers," said Nyamitwe.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 people are reported to have been killed since then, while some 240,000 others sought exile in neighboring countries. Enditem