2 Burundians shot dead at border region by Rwandan soldiers

Two Burundian nationals were early Wednesday killed by Rwandan soldiers near River Ruhwa making border between Burundi and Rwanda on the Rwandan territory, the Burundian Police said Wednesday.

"Nine Burundian citizens crossed the river and were illicitly going to sell eggplants in Rwanda. When they crossed River Ruhwa and arrived on the Rwandan territory, Rwandan soldiers shot dead one of those Burundians and four others managed to escape and return to the Burundian territory," said Burundian Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye.

According to him, a second Burundian citizen was later shot dead and the remaining three also managed to run away and reach the Burundian territory.

Nkurikiye added the seven Burundians who returned to their home territory are being held in a police custody at northwest Burundi's Cibitoke city for further investigations.

A couple of months ago, the Burundian government decided a ban on exporting food items in an attempt to protect its agricultural production.

Relations between Burundi and Rwanda have been cold since April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term in violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement.

Meanwhile, Rwanda is accused of hosting Burundian citizens who staged a failed coup plot on May 13, 2015 and of providing military training to people who are destabilizing Burundi. But Rwanda denied all those allegations. Endit