Tension on Burundi-Rwanda border obstructs traffic

Tension on the common border between Burundi and Rwanda since Tuesday afternoon has brought traffic to a standstill, the Burundian police spokesman said Wednesday.

Tension was ignited as the Burundian Immigration Police (PAFE) was setting up cameras at Ruhwa, Cibitoke province, along the border to interconnect the town with the PAFE headquarters, an act the Rwandan police agents objected to, said Burundian Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye.

According to Nkurikiye, no traffic of people or goods was observed at Ruhwa since Wednesday morning as no Rwandan police agents came on the border to facilitate the traffic.

Nkurikiye said the project of setting up cameras on Ruhwa, Gasenyi and Kobero border posts with Rwanda is a "good project" for the purpose of interconnecting those posts and the PAFE headquarters in the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

He indicated that discussions were underway for the resumption of activities at Ruhwa common border.

Relations between Burundi and Rwanda have turned sour since 2015, when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for his controversial third term.

Burundi has accused Rwanda of hosting those who staged a failed coup on May 13, 2015 against Nkurunziza. Rwanda has denied all these allegations. Endit